HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gussekloo, J. Articles by Westendorp, R. G.J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gussekloo, J. Articles by Westendorp, R. G.J.

Sensory Impairment and Cognitive Functioning in Oldest-Old Subjects

The Leiden 85+ Study

Received December 1, 2003; revised June 14, June 21, 2004; accepted June 22, 2004. From the Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden Univ. Medical Center, The Netherlands (JG, AJMdC, CO, RGJW) and the Dept. of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Brain and Behaviour Institute, Univ. of Maastricht, The Netherlands. Send correspondence and reprint requests to J. Gussekloo, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, C-2-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. e-mail: JGussekloo{at}lumc.nl
© 2005 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

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.

Key Words: Sensory Impairment • Cognition • Oldest-Old Patients