scholarly journals Self-Reported Hearing Loss and Longitudinal Cognitive Function in a Cohort Enriched with Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 1109-1117
Author(s):  
Taylor N. Fields ◽  
Kimberly D. Mueller ◽  
Rebecca L. Koscik ◽  
Sterling C. Johnson ◽  
Ozioma C. Okonkwo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Visuospatial Memory ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Nearest Neighbor Matching ◽  
Rate Of Decline

Background: Growing evidence suggests hearing loss is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and dementia, but few studies have examined its relationship to sub-clinical cognitive outcomes. Objective: To investigate the effect of self-reported hearing loss on longitudinal cognitive function in a risk-enriched cohort of clinically-unimpaired, late middle-aged adults. Methods: 579 participants from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) were included. Hearing status was determined via self-reported history of diagnosed hearing loss. Each participant with self-reported hearing loss was age- and sex-matched to two participants who never reported hearing loss using nearest-neighbor matching. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine associations between self-reported hearing loss and age-related cognitive trajectories with covariates of sex, literacy, and ethnicity, person-level random intercepts and age-related slopes. Cognitive outcomes encompassed measures of speed and flexibility, visuospatial memory, and verbal fluency. Results: Participants with self-reported hearing loss exhibited significantly poorer performance on a speed and flexibility factor score and single test of psychomotor speed and executive function, relative to participants who never reported hearing loss. There was no association between self-reported hearing loss and visuospatial memory or verbal fluency. Longitudinally, self-reported hearing loss was associated with less rapid decline in speed and flexibility and no difference in rate of decline for any other cognitive measure. Conclusion: Self-reported hearing loss was associated with poorer speed and flexibility but not with accelerated decline in any domain studied, contrary to previous findings. Further studies involving behavioral auditory measures in this cohort would clarify the robustness of these findings.

Impact of Cochlear Implantation on Neurocognitive Subdomains in Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Christiane Völter ◽  
Lisa Götze ◽  
Imme Haubitz ◽  
Janine Müther ◽  
Stefan Dazert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Homogeneous Population ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
Hearing Status ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Age-related hearing loss affects about one-third of the population worldwide. Studies suggest that hearing loss may be linked to cognitive decline and auditory rehabilitation may improve cognitive functions. So far, the data are limited, and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The study aimed to analyze the impact of cochlear implantation on cognition in a large homogeneous population of hearing-impaired adults using a comprehensive non-auditory cognitive assessment with regard to normal-hearing (NH) subjects. <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> Seventy-one cochlear implant (CI) candidates with a postlingual, bilateral severe or profound hearing loss aged 66.3 years (standard deviation [SD] 9.2) and 105 NH subjects aged 65.96 years (SD 9.4) were enrolled. The computer-based neurocognitive tool applied included 11 subtests covering attention (M3), short- and long-term memory (recall and delayed recall), working memory (0- and 2-back, Operation Span [OSPAN] task), processing speed (Trail Making Test [TMT] A), mental flexibility (TMT B), inhibition (cFlanker and iFlanker), and verbal fluency. CI patients underwent a neurocognitive testing preoperatively as well as 12 months postoperatively. Impact of hearing status, age, gender, and education on cognitive subdomains was studied. Additionally, after controlling for education and age, cognitive performance of CI subjects (<i>n</i> = 41) was compared to that of NH (<i>n</i> = 34). <b><i>Results:</i></b> CI users achieved significantly better neurocognitive scores 12 months after cochlear implantation than before in most subtests (M3, [delayed] recall, 2-back, OSPAN, iFlanker, and verbal fluency; all <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) except for the TMT A and B. A significant correlation could be found between the postoperative improvement in speech perception and in the attentional task M3 (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Hearing status (<i>p</i> = 0.0006) had the strongest effect on attention, whereas education had a high impact on recall (<i>p</i> = 0.002), OSPAN (<i>p</i> = 0.0004), and TMT A (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and B (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Inhibition was mainly age-dependent with better results in younger subjects (<i>p</i> = 0.016). Verbal fluency was predicted by gender as females outperformed men (<i>p</i> = 0.009). Even after controlling for age and education NH subjects showed a significantly better performance than CI candidates in the recall (<i>p</i> = 0.03) and delayed recall (<i>p</i> = 0.01) tasks. Postoperatively, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups anymore. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Impact of cochlear implantation on neurocognitive functions differs according to the cognitive subdomains. Postoperatively, CI recipients performed as good as age- and education-matched NH subjects.

Exercise Impacts Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Function and Neural Complexity

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Heisz ◽  
Ana Kovacevic
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Age Related Changes

Age-related changes in the brain can compromise cognitive function. However, in some cases, the brain is able to functionally reorganize to compensate for some of this loss. The present paper reviews the benefits of exercise on executive functions in older adults and discusses a potential mechanism through which exercise may change the way the brain processes information for better cognitive outcomes. Specifically, older adults who are more physically active demonstrate a shift toward local neural processing that is associated with better executive functions. We discuss the use of neural complexity as a sensitive measure of the neural network plasticity that is enhanced through exercise. We conclude by highlighting the future work needed to improve exercise prescriptions that help older adults maintain their cognitive and physical functions for longer into their lifespan.

scholarly journals TRENDS IN HEALTHCARE COSTS AND UTILIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH HEARING LOSS DIAGNOSIS OVER 10 YEARS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S494-S494
Author(s):  
Nicholas Reed ◽  
Jennifer A Deal ◽  
Frank Lin ◽  
Charlotte Yeh
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Healthcare Cost ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Inpatient Hospitalization ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Incident Rate

Abstract Hearing loss affects 38 million Americans and is associated with cognitive and physical decline. Moreover, hearing loss limits communication between patients and providers. In this study, we aimed to determine whether hearing loss diagnosis impacts healthcare cost and utilization. In the OptumLabs Data Warehouse insurance claims database (January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2016) we identified cases of age-related hearing loss (i.e. excluding conductive, ototoxic-induced, surgical-related hearing losses) in adults over the age of 50 years. Hearing loss cases were propensity-matched (nearest neighbor) to persons without hearing loss on multiple socioeconomic (income, region), demographic (age, sex, race, education), and health status (comorbidity count, cancer, dementia, baseline resource utilization) indices. There were 154,414, 44,852, and 4,728 subjects, respectively, at the 2-, 5-, and 10-year follow-up time points. We used regression modeling to examine healthcare cost (total expenditures), inpatient hospitalization, length of inpatient stay, outpatient visits, 30-day readmissions, and emergency department visits. Among 4,728 matched adults, hearing loss was associated with $22,434 (95% CI $18,219-$26,648) or 46% higher total healthcare costs over a 10-year period compared to those without hearing loss. Persons with hearing loss experienced more inpatient stays (Incident Rate Ratio, 1.47; 95% CI 1.29-1.68) and were at-risk (44% higher risk) for greater 30-day hospital readmission (Relative Risk, 1.44; 95% CI 1.14-1.81) at 10-years post index date. Similar trends were observed at 2- and 5-year time points across all measures. Importantly, these pathways may be amendable to hearing treatment via amplification which warrants future research preventative strategies.

scholarly journals Intake of Products Containing Anthocyanins, Flavanols, and Flavanones, and Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha L. Gardener ◽  
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith ◽  
Michael Weinborn ◽  
Catherine P. Bondonno ◽  
Ralph N. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Intracellular Signaling Pathway ◽  
Age Related

The purpose of this review is to examine human research studies published within the past 6 years which evaluate the role of anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavanone consumption in cognitive function, and to discuss potential mechanisms of action underlying any observed benefits. Evidence to date suggests the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries and cocoa, may have the potential to limit, or even reverse, age-related declines in cognition. Over the last 6 years, the flavonoid subgroups of anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavanones have been shown to be beneficial in terms of conferring neuroprotection. The mechanisms by which flavonoids positively modulate cognitive function are yet to be fully elucidated. Postulated mechanisms include both direct actions such as receptor activation, neurotrophin release and intracellular signaling pathway modulation, and indirect actions such as enhancement of cerebral blood flow. Further intervention studies conducted in diverse populations with sufficient sample sizes and long durations are required to examine the effect of consumption of flavonoid groups on clinically relevant cognitive outcomes. As populations continue to focus on adopting healthy aging strategies, dietary interventions with flavonoids remains a promising avenue for future research. However, many questions are still to be answered, including identifying appropriate dosage, timeframes for intake, as well as the best form of flavonoids, before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the extent to which their consumption can protect the aging brain.

scholarly journals Stereotype Threat Lowers Older Adults' Self-Reported Hearing Abilities

Gerontology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Barber ◽  
Soohyoung Rain Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Stereotype Threat ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Subjective Assessments ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hearing Abilities

Background: Although stereotype threat is a well-documented phenomenon, previous studies examining it in older adults have almost exclusively focused on objective cognitive outcomes. Considerably less attention has been paid to the impact of stereotype threat on older adults' subjective assessments of their own abilities or to the impact of stereotype threat in noncognitive domains. Objective: Older adults are stereotyped as having experienced not only cognitive declines, but physical declines as well. The current study tested the prediction that stereotype threat can negatively influence older adults' subjective hearing abilities. Methods: To test this, 115 adults (mean age 50.03 years, range 41-67) read either a positive or negative description about how aging affects hearing. All participants then answered a questionnaire in which they assessed their own hearing abilities. Results: The impact of stereotype threat on self-reported hearing was moderated by chronological age. Participants in their 40s and early 50s were unaffected by the stereotype threat manipulation. In contrast, participants in their late 50s and 60s rated their hearing as being subjectively worse when under stereotype threat. Conclusion: The current study provides a clear demonstration that stereotype threat negatively impacts older adults' subjective assessments of their own abilities. It is also the first study to demonstrate an effect of stereotype threat within the domain of hearing. These results have important implications for researchers investigating age-related hearing decline. Stereotype threat can lead to overestimation of the prevalence of age-related hearing decline. It can also serve as a confounding variable when examining the psychosocial correlates of hearing loss. Because of this, researchers studying age-related hearing loss should aim to provide a stereotype threat-free testing environment and also include assessments of stereotype threat within their studies.

scholarly journals Exploring the bidirectional associations between loneliness and cognitive functioning over 10 years: the English longitudinal study of ageing

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1937-1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiamin Yin ◽  
Camille Lassale ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Dorina Cadar
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Linear Slope ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
English Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background As the population ages, cognitive decline and dementia have become major health concerns in the UK. Loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline, but the reverse causality of this association remains unclear. This study aims to examine whether there is a bidirectional relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in older English adults (age 50 years and over) over a 10-year follow-up. Methods Data came from a nationally representative sample of 5885 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), free of stroke or dementia and followed every 2 years up to wave 7 (2014–15). At each wave, cognitive function was measured with word recall and verbal fluency tests, and loneliness was measured with the abridged version of the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Bivariate dual change score models were used to assess the multivariate associations between loneliness and cognitive function, used interchangeably as exposures and outcomes. Results Greater loneliness at baseline was associated with poorer memory [β intercept = −0.03, standard error (SE) = 0.01, P  =  0.016] and verbal fluency (β intercept = −0.01, SE  =  001, P =  0.027) at baseline, and with a stronger linear rate of decline in both memory (β linear slope = −0.07, SE  =  001, P  ≤ 0.001) and verbal fluency (β linear slope = −0.09, SE  =  0.03, P =  0.003) over a 10-year follow-up period, although the performance on verbal fluency did not change substantially on average over this period. We also found that higher baseline memory, but not verbal fluency, predicted a slower change in loneliness (β linear slope = −0.01, SE  =  001, P =  0.004) and that a linear decline in memory was associated with an acceleration in loneliness (β quadratic slope = −0.02, SE  =  001, P  ≤ 0.001) during follow-up. Conclusions Higher loneliness is associated with poorer cognitive function at baseline and contributes to a worsening in memory and verbal fluency over a decade. These factors seem, however, to be partially intertwined, since baseline memory and its rate of decline also contribute to an increase in loneliness over time.

scholarly journals Istradefylline Mitigates Age-Related Hearing Loss in C57BL/6J Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8000
Author(s):  
Min Shin ◽  
Madhavi Pandya ◽  
Kristan Espinosa ◽  
Ravindra Telang ◽  
Jordi Boix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Object Recognition Test ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common sensory disorder among older people, and yet, the treatment options are limited to medical devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. The high prevalence of ARHL mandates the development of treatment strategies that can prevent or rescue age-related cochlear degeneration. In this study, we investigated a novel pharmacological strategy based on inhibition of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) in middle aged C57BL/6 mice prone to early onset ARHL. C57BL/6J mice were treated with weekly istradefylline (A2AR antagonist; 1 mg/kg) injections from 6 to 12 months of age. Auditory function was assessed using auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to tone pips (4–32 kHz). ABR thresholds and suprathreshold responses (wave I amplitudes and latencies) were evaluated at 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Functional outcomes were correlated with quantitative histological assessments of sensory hair cells. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze and the novel object recognition test, and the zero maze test was used to assess anxiety-like behaviour. Weekly injections of istradefylline attenuated ABR threshold shifts by approximately 20 dB at mid to high frequencies (16–32 kHz) but did not improve ABR suprathreshold responses. Istradefylline treatment improved hair cell survival in a turn-dependent manner, whilst the cognitive function was unaffected by istradefylline treatment. This study presents the first evidence for the rescue potential of istradefylline in ARHL and highlights the role of A2AR in development of age-related cochlear degeneration.

scholarly journals Association of Age-Related Hearing Loss With Cognitive Function, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia

2018 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Loughrey ◽  
Michelle E. Kelly ◽  
George A. Kelley ◽  
Sabina Brennan ◽  
Brian A. Lawlor
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

scholarly journals The Effects of Age-Related Hearing Loss on the Brain and Cognitive Function

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 810-821
Author(s):  
Kate Slade ◽  
Christopher J. Plack ◽  
Helen E. Nuttall
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals Screening Tools and Assessment Methods of Cognitive Decline Associated With Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Yue ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
Qi Zheng ◽  
Zihao Xu ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Hearing Loss

Strong links between hearing and cognitive function have been confirmed by a growing number of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Seniors with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) have a significantly higher cognitive impairment incidence than those with normal hearing. The correlation mechanism between ARHL and cognitive decline is not fully elucidated to date. However, auditory intervention for patients with ARHL may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, as early cognitive screening may improve related treatment strategies. Currently, clinical audiology examinations rarely include cognitive screening tests, partly due to the lack of objective quantitative indicators with high sensitivity and specificity. Questionnaires are currently widely used as a cognitive screening tool, but the subject’s performance may be negatively affected by hearing loss. Numerous electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies analyzed brain structure and function changes in patients with ARHL. These objective electrophysiological tools can be employed to reveal the association mechanism between auditory and cognitive functions, which may also find biological markers to be more extensively applied in assessing the progression towards cognitive decline and observing the effects of rehabilitation training for patients with ARHL. In this study, we reviewed clinical manifestations, pathological changes, and causes of ARHL and discussed their cognitive function effects. Specifically, we focused on current cognitive screening tools and assessment methods and analyzed their limitations and potential integration.

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