title: Short-term longitudinal study of central auditory function in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Central auditory function can be studied to monitor the progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Our aim was to address this issue in a prospective longitudinal setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tests of central hearing function were performed on 70 subjects with either Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment, and in controls with subjective memory complaints but normal cognition. The time span until follow-up was 1.5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dichotic digit free recall test showed a significant decline in the AD group compared with the controls (left ear).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short time span was long enough to disclose a central auditory processing decline in AD.
authors: Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Esma
authors: E
authors: Idrizbegovic
authors: Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Hederstierna
authors: Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Dahlquist
authors: Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Rosenhall
keywords: Central auditory processing; Dementia; Hearing