# Development of an In-Home Sensory Training Therapy to Mitigate Falls Risk Among the Elderly

> **NIH NIH R44** · SENAPTEC INC. · 2024 · $407,479

## Abstract

Falls are a major cause of death and morbidity for older adults in the US each year, and injuries from falls leave
many older adults with a greater risk of physical and cognitive decline due to inactivity and social isolation. At
Senaptec, we have developed stroboscopic eyewear (“Strobes”) for sensory resistance training and rehabilitation
that uses liquid crystal technology to intermittently occlude visual input to promote reweighting of dependencies
on the different sensory modalities. Many independent laboratories and clinics have documented significant
improvements in motor performance and sensorimotor coordination after even brief training regimens with our
Strobes. Notably, our Strobes are particularly useful for improving balance and stability, simply by being used
during basic tasks. In an ongoing pilot study of older adults with self-reported balance deficits, we have observed
improvements in balance metrics after only 10 min/day of Strobe use for 2 weeks during standing activities of
daily living. Our Strobes were initially designed for athletic performance training, and, given the potential benefit
they could have for older adults particularly, we are now modifying their design to accommodate prescription
lenses without losing functionality and incorporating a feature that will improve their function in low-light settings,
such as in the home. While existing programs and devices for fall prevention may be effective, these options are
often community-based, require transportation, or are otherwise unavailable in convenient settings where older
adults live or receive care. Some exercise programs and devices may be applicable in the home, but those that
are difficult, not engaging, or too strenuous for this population are unlikely to be adopted for initial or lasting use.
Our Strobes, however, can be worn in the home and have shown potential to reduce fall risk simply by being
worn during brief periods of time while the user is conducting routine activities. Now, to bring Strobes to the
large population of older adults in the US, including those aging in place, we must alter their design so they are
suitable for users who require prescription lenses and for low-light settings that may be encountered in the home,
and we must conduct clinical efficacy studies that will enable FDA clearance. Thus, for this Fast-Track SBIR
project, we will modify the Strobes to fit over a broad range of prescription eyewear and to include a “low-light”
mode for improved visibility in a broader range of environmental conditions, and we will test the efficacy of Strobe
training for older adults at risk of falling, as determined by Berg Balance Scales scores <45, with a randomized
control trial. We anticipate this work will demonstrate the efficacy of balance training with Senaptec’s Strobe
eyewear for improving balance and decreasing fall risk in older adults and enable us to achieve clearance from
the FDA. Ultimately, we hope Strobes will be a highly accessibl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10922420
- **Project number:** 1R44AG087868-01
- **Recipient organization:** SENAPTEC INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Herbert Yoo
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $407,479
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10922420

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10922420, Development of an In-Home Sensory Training Therapy to Mitigate Falls Risk Among the Elderly (1R44AG087868-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10922420. Licensed CC0.

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