Scientists from the University of Toronto found hearing impairment and vision impairment to be independently linked to cognitive impairment.
They found older adults with hearing impairment had more than double the odds of cognitive impairment, while those with vision impairment had more than triple the odds of cognitive impairment.
When an older adult experienced both hearing impairment and vision impairment, the odds of cognitive impairment were eight-fold.
Approximately one-half of adults aged 65 and older with both hearing and vision impairment also had cognitive impairment.
The research is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports and was conducted by Esme Fuller-Thomson et al.
There have been several studies in the past decade linking hearing loss to dementia and cognitive decline, but less attention has been paid to vision loss and dual sensory impairment.
In the study, the team used data from a total of 5.4 million older Americans.
The team says dual sensory impairment prevents an individual from compensating for the loss of one sense through the use of another.
The findings emphasize the need to reach out to older adults with dual sensory impairment, 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.
Several possible theories may explain the association between sensory impairment and cognitive impairment.
Cognitive deterioration is due to decreased auditory and visual input, social disengagement and loneliness due to problems communicating, and age-related degeneration of the central nervous system.
Future research is still needed to determine if the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline is causal.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how your eyes could show early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and a new treatment for severe dry eye disease.
For more information about eye health, please see recent studies that senior people need to pay attention to this dangerous eye disease, and results showing vitamin B3 may help treat common blinding eye disease.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
