Half of older adults with hearing and vision impairments have cognitive impairment compared to 28% of those with visual impairments only, 20% of those with hearing only impairments, and 7% of those without sensory impairments
A new nationally representative study published online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports found that hearing impairment and visual impairment are independently associated with cognitive decline.
After accounting for sex, age, and other sociodemographic characteristics, older adults with hearing impairment were more than twice as likely to have cognitive impairment, while those with visual impairment were more than three times as likely to have cognitive impairment. When an older adult experienced both hearing and vision problems, the odds of cognitive decline were eight times greater. About half of adults age 65 and older with both hearing and vision problems also had cognitive problems.
There have been several studies in the last decade linking hearing loss to dementia and cognitive decline, but less attention has been paid to vision loss and dual sensory impairment.
"Given that half of adults with vision and hearing loss experience severe cognitive problems, sensory loss could be used to help identify those at risk of cognitive decline and dementia," says lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, director of the Institute at the University of Toronto. for Life Course & Aging and professor at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work (FIFSW) and the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
The study was based on 10 consecutive waves of the American Community Survey (2008-2017), a nationally representative annual survey of approximately half a million American respondents aged 65 and older. A total of 5.4 million older Americans, including institutionalized and community-dwelling older adults, were included in the study.
"Dual sensory impairment prevents a person from compensating for the loss of one sense by using another ," said co-author Aliya Nowczynski, a recent Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate from the University of Toronto. "Our findings emphasize the need to reach out to older adults with dual sensory disabilities to assess whether there are opportunities for early intervention."
The authors emphasize the importance of considering treatment options for sensory impairment to support the cognitive health of older adults.
"It is important that we consider the accessibility of common treatments for sensory impairment, such as hearing aids and cataract surgery," says co-author Andie MacNeil, a recent MSW graduate from the University of Toronto. “Those who have difficulty accessing these treatment options may be more vulnerable to cognitive decline. More research is needed to determine whether interventions for sensory impairment reduce the risk of later cognitive decline.
Several possible theories that may explain the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline include cognitive decline due to decreased auditory and visual input, social disconnection and loneliness due to communication problems, and degeneration of the central nervous system. age related.
"Future research is still needed to determine whether the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline is causal," says Fuller-Thomson, "Determining the mechanisms underlying this relationship may help guide next steps to support older adults." ".
Conclusion: Both hearing and visual impairment are independently associated with cognitive impairment. However, dual sensory impairment is associated with substantially higher odds of cognitive impairment, even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Professionals working with older adults may consider treatment for sensory and cognitive impairments at the same time. Future research is needed to determine whether the association is causal and to investigate the effectiveness of common treatment methods for sensory impairment in reducing the prevalence of cognitive impairment. |
