Sensory impairment and cognitive functioning in oldest-old subjects: the Leiden 85+ Study.
OBJECTIVE
Because studies on the association of sensory impairment (both hearing and visual impairment) and cognitive functioning in elderly persons yielded conflicting results, the authors explored this association within the Leiden 85+ Study.


METHODS
Within this population-based study of 459 participants aged 85+ years, hearing impairment was measured by audiometry and visual impairment by a visual acuity chart, both under standardized conditions. The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) assessed global cognitive functioning. In participants with MMSE scores >18, the authors further assessed memory (Word-Learning Test, Immediate and Delayed Recall) and cognitive speed (by Stroop Test, Letter-Digit Coding test).


RESULTS
Both hearing impairment (prevalence: 85%) and visual impairment (prevalence: 59%) were associated with lower scores on the MMSE. Increasing visual impairment was associated with poorer scores on memory and cognitive speed, as measured with visually presented cognitive tests. In contrast, there was no association between hearing impairment and memory and cognitive speed.


CONCLUSIONS
In elderly people, cognitive functioning as assessed by visual cognitive tests relates to visual impairment but not to hearing impairment. The authors therefore assume that the association between sensory impairment and cognitive functioning is, at least partly, based on practical disadvantages of elderly persons with sensory impairment during cognitive assessments.
Gussekloo
Jacobijn
J
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, C-2-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. JGussekloo@lumc.nl
de Craen
Anton J M
AJ
Oduber
Charlène
C
van Boxtel
Martin P J
MP
Westendorp
Rudi G J
RG
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001299:Audiometry; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011930:Reaction Time; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity