pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Longitudinal Association of Late-Life Visual and Hearing Difficulty and Cognitive Function: The Role of Social Isolation - PubMed

The Longitudinal Association of Late-Life Visual and Hearing Difficulty and Cognitive Function: The Role of Social Isolation

Jeremy B Yorgason et al. J Aging Health. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: Sensory impairments are prevalent among older adults and have been associated with cognitive challenges in later life, yet mechanisms are less well understood. We examined the mediating role of social isolation in the longitudinal relationship between self-reported sensory difficulty and impaired cognitive functioning among older adults.

Methods: Data were taken from the NHATS Study, an annual survey of Medicare beneficiaries' age ≥ 65. Participants (N = 6,338) provided data at Rounds 5, 6, and 7 (2015, 2016, 2017). Structural equation models were estimated to test longitudinal direct and indirect associations.

Results: All sensory difficulties were negatively associated with all cognitive functioning measures cross-sectionally through social isolation. Longitudinally, vision difficulty and dual sensory difficulty were indirectly associated with cognitive functioning across time. Hearing difficulty had no longitudinal indirect associations with cognitive functioning through social isolation.

Discussion: Social isolation is an important pathway through which late-life vision difficulty is associated with decreased cognitive function.

Keywords: cognitive function; hearing; longitudinal analysis; social factors; vision.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest:

None.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Diagram of the Guiding Conceptual and Analytic Model

Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Results from Tests of Indirect Effects of Vision Difficulty on Cognitive Outcomes Through Social Isolation

Indirect Effect Coefficients R5 Learning/Memory a1*b1 = −.004 z = −3.418 p = .001 95% CI = −.007, −.002 R5 Orientation a1*b1 = −.003 z = −2.557 p = .011 95% CI = −.005, −.001 R5 Executive Function a1*b1 = −.002 z = −2.271 p = .023 95% CI = −.004, −.001 R6 Learning/Memory a2*b2 = −.003 z = −3.001 p = .003 95% CI = −.004, −.001 R7 Learning/Memory a2*b3 = −.001 z = −2.079 p = .038 95% CI = −.002, .000 R7 Orientation a2*b3 = −.001 z = −2.054 p = .040 95% CI = −.002, .000 Notes. R = Round of NHATS study; CI = confidence interval.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Results from Tests of Indirect Effects of Hearing Difficulty and Dual Sensory Difficulty on Cognitive Outcomes Through Social Isolation

Indirect Effect Coefficients Hearing Difficulty R5 Learning/Memory a1*b1 = −.005 z = −3.380 p = .001 95% CI = −.008, −.002 R5 Orientation a1*b1 = −.004 z = −3.151 p = .002 95% CI = −.007, −.002 R5 Executive Function a1*b1 = −.003 z = −2.895 p = .004 95% CI = −.006, −.001 Dual Sensory Difficulty R5 Learning/Memory a1*b1 = −.004 z = −3.332 p = .001 95% CI = −.007, −.002 R5 Orientation a1*b1 = −.004 z = −3.189 p = .001 95% CI = −.006, −.002 R5 Executive Function a1*b1 = −.003 z = −2.993 p = .003 95% CI = −.006, −.001 R6 Learning/Memory a2*b2 = −.002 z = −2.040 p = .041 95% CI = −.004, .000 Notes. R = Round of NHATS study; CI = confidence interval.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Bainbridge KE, & Wallhagen MI (2014). Hearing loss in an aging American population: Extent, impact, and management. Annual Review of Public Health, 35(1), 139–152. 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182510 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Baltes PB, & Lindenberger U (1997). Emergence of a powerful connection between sensory and cognitive functions across the adult life span: A new window to the study of cognitive aging? Psychology and Aging, 12(1), 12–21. https://doi,org-erl.lib.byu.edu/10.1037/0882-7974.12.1.12 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Brenowitz WD, Kaup AR, Lin FR, & Yaffe K (2019). Multiple sensory impairment is associated with increased risk of dementia among Black and White older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 74(6), 890–896. 10.1093/gerona/gly264 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Burton MJ, Ramke J, Marques AP, Bourne RRA, Congdon N, Jones I, Ah Tong BAM, Arunga S, Bachani D, Bascaran C, Bastawrous A, Blanchet K, Braithwaite T, Buchan JC, Cairns J, Cama A, Chagunda M, Chuluunkhuu C, Cooper A, … Faal HB (2020). The Lancet Global Health commission on global eye health: Vision beyond 2020. Lancet Global Health, 9(4), E489–E551. 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30488-5 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cudjoe TK, Roth DL, Szanton SL, Wolff JL, Boyd CM, & Thorpe RJ Jr. (2020). The epidemiology of social isolation: National health and aging trends study. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(1), 107–113. 10.1093/geronb/gby037 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms