Hearing, Vision Loss Combo a Colossal Risk for Cognitive Decline
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The combination of hearing loss and vision loss is linked to an eightfold increased risk of cognitive impairment, new research shows. Investigators analyzed data on more than 5 million US seniors. Adjusted results show that participants with hearing impairment alone had more than twice the odds of also having cognitive impairment, while those with vision impairment alone had more than triple the odds of cognitive impairment. However, those with dual sensory impairment (DSI) had an eightfold higher risk for cognitive impairment. In addition, half of the participants with DSI also had cognitive impairment. Of those with cognitive impairment, 16% had DSI, compared with only about 2% of their peers without cognitive impairment.
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@aroon Special attention, in particular, should be given to those aged 65 to 74 who have serious hearing and/or vision impairment [because], if the relationship with dementia is found to be causal, such interventions can potentially mitigate the development of cognitive impairment