Age-Related Hearing Loss, Neuropsychological Performance, and Incident Dementia in Older Adults

Katharine K. Brewster; Mei Chen Hu; Melanie M. Wall; Patrick J. Brown; Sigal Zilcha-Mano; Steven P. Roose; Alexandra Stein; Justin S. Golub; Bret R. Rutherford

doi:10.3233/JAD-200908

Age-Related Hearing Loss, Neuropsychological Performance, and Incident Dementia in Older Adults

Katharine K. Brewster, Mei Chen Hu, Melanie M. Wall, Patrick J. Brown, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Steven P. Roose, Alexandra Stein, Justin S. Golub, Bret R. Rutherford

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Age-related hearing loss (HL) has been associated with dementia, though the neurocognitive profile of individuals with HL is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize the neurocognitive profile of HL. Methods: N=8,529 participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center ≥60 years and free of cognitive impairment who were characterized as Untreated-, Treated-, or No HL. Outcomes included executive function (Trail Making Test [TMT] Part B), episodic memory (Immediate/Delayed Recall), language fluency (Vegetables, Boston Naming Test), and conversion to dementia. Regression models were fit to examine associations between HL and neurocognitive performance at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models examined the links between HL, neurocognitive scores, and development of dementia over follow-up. Results: At baseline, those with Untreated HL (versus No HL) had worse neurocognitive performance per standardized difference on executive function (TMT Part B [mean difference=0.05 (95% CI 0.00, 0.10)]) and language fluency (Vegetables [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.14,-0.01)], Boston Naming Test [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.13,-0.01)]). No differences in these neurocognitive performance scores were demonstrated between Treated HL and No HL groups other than MMSE [mean difference=-0.06 (95% CI-0.12, 0.00)]. Through follow-up, executive dysfunction differed by hearing group (χ2(2)=46.08, p<0.0001) and was present among 39.12% in No HL, 44.85% in Untreated HL, and 49.40% in Treated HL. Worse performance across all cognitive domains predicted incident dementia. Conclusion: The observed association between Untreated HL and lower cognitive ability that improved when hearing aids were worn may reflect an inability to hear the test instructions. Future studies using cognitive assessments validated for use in HL are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HL and identify individuals at risk for dementia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	855-864
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume	80
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200908
State	Published - 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The manuscript was supported by the NIMH Grants R25 MH086466 and T32 MH020004–22. The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s database is funded by NIA/NIH Grant U01 AG016976. NACC data are contributed by the NIA-funded ADCs: P30 AG019610 (PI Eric Reiman, MD), P30 AG013846 (PI Neil Kowall, MD), P30 AG062428-01 (PI James Leverenz, MD) P50 AG008702 (PI Scott Small, MD), P50 AG025688 (PI Allan Levey, MD, PhD), P50 AG047266 (PI Todd Golde, MD, PhD), P30 AG010133 (PI Andrew Saykin, PsyD), P50 AG005146 (PI Marilyn Albert, PhD), P30 AG062421-01 (PI Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD), P30 AG062422-01 (PI Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD), P50 AG005138 (PI Mary Sano, PhD), P30 AG008051 (PI Thomas Wisniewski, MD), P30 AG013854 (PI Robert Vassar, PhD), P30 AG008017 (PI Jeffrey Kaye, MD), P30 AG010161 (PI David Bennett, MD), P50 AG047366 (PI Victor Henderson, MD, MS), P30 AG010129 (PI Charles DeCarli, MD), P50 AG016573 (PI Frank LaFerla, PhD), P30 AG062429-01(PI James Brewer, MD, PhD), P50 AG023501 (PI Bruce Miller, MD), P30 AG035982 (PI Russell Swerdlow, MD), P30 AG028383 (PI Linda Van Eldik, PhD), P30 AG053760 (PI Henry Paulson, MD, PhD), P30 AG010124 (PI John Trojanowski, MD, PhD), P50 AG005133 (PI Oscar Lopez, MD), P50 AG005142 (PI Helena Chui, MD), P30 AG012300 (PI Roger Rosenberg, MD), P30 AG049638 (PI Suzanne Craft, PhD), P50 AG005136 (PI Thomas Gra-bowski, MD), P30 AG062715-01 (PI Sanjay Asthana, MD, FRCP), P50 AG005681 (PI John Morris, MD), P50 AG047270 (PI Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021-IOS Press. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Alzheimer's disease
cognitive dysfunction
dementia
hearing loss
neuropsychological tests

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
Clinical Psychology
Geriatrics and Gerontology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.3233/JAD-200908

Cite this

@article{994042607bb2444ea45a1d22c0ef37be,

title = "Age-Related Hearing Loss, Neuropsychological Performance, and Incident Dementia in Older Adults",

abstract = "Background: Age-related hearing loss (HL) has been associated with dementia, though the neurocognitive profile of individuals with HL is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize the neurocognitive profile of HL. Methods: N=8,529 participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center ≥60 years and free of cognitive impairment who were characterized as Untreated-, Treated-, or No HL. Outcomes included executive function (Trail Making Test [TMT] Part B), episodic memory (Immediate/Delayed Recall), language fluency (Vegetables, Boston Naming Test), and conversion to dementia. Regression models were fit to examine associations between HL and neurocognitive performance at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models examined the links between HL, neurocognitive scores, and development of dementia over follow-up. Results: At baseline, those with Untreated HL (versus No HL) had worse neurocognitive performance per standardized difference on executive function (TMT Part B [mean difference=0.05 (95% CI 0.00, 0.10)]) and language fluency (Vegetables [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.14,-0.01)], Boston Naming Test [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.13,-0.01)]). No differences in these neurocognitive performance scores were demonstrated between Treated HL and No HL groups other than MMSE [mean difference=-0.06 (95% CI-0.12, 0.00)]. Through follow-up, executive dysfunction differed by hearing group (χ2(2)=46.08, p<0.0001) and was present among 39.12% in No HL, 44.85% in Untreated HL, and 49.40% in Treated HL. Worse performance across all cognitive domains predicted incident dementia. Conclusion: The observed association between Untreated HL and lower cognitive ability that improved when hearing aids were worn may reflect an inability to hear the test instructions. Future studies using cognitive assessments validated for use in HL are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HL and identify individuals at risk for dementia.",

keywords = "Alzheimer's disease, cognitive dysfunction, dementia, hearing loss, neuropsychological tests",

author = "Brewster, {Katharine K.} and Hu, {Mei Chen} and Wall, {Melanie M.} and Brown, {Patrick J.} and Sigal Zilcha-Mano and Roose, {Steven P.} and Alexandra Stein and Golub, {Justin S.} and Rutherford, {Bret R.}",

note = "Funding Information: The manuscript was supported by the NIMH Grants R25 MH086466 and T32 MH020004–22. The National Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Coordinating Center{\textquoteright}s database is funded by NIA/NIH Grant U01 AG016976. NACC data are contributed by the NIA-funded ADCs: P30 AG019610 (PI Eric Reiman, MD), P30 AG013846 (PI Neil Kowall, MD), P30 AG062428-01 (PI James Leverenz, MD) P50 AG008702 (PI Scott Small, MD), P50 AG025688 (PI Allan Levey, MD, PhD), P50 AG047266 (PI Todd Golde, MD, PhD), P30 AG010133 (PI Andrew Saykin, PsyD), P50 AG005146 (PI Marilyn Albert, PhD), P30 AG062421-01 (PI Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD), P30 AG062422-01 (PI Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD), P50 AG005138 (PI Mary Sano, PhD), P30 AG008051 (PI Thomas Wisniewski, MD), P30 AG013854 (PI Robert Vassar, PhD), P30 AG008017 (PI Jeffrey Kaye, MD), P30 AG010161 (PI David Bennett, MD), P50 AG047366 (PI Victor Henderson, MD, MS), P30 AG010129 (PI Charles DeCarli, MD), P50 AG016573 (PI Frank LaFerla, PhD), P30 AG062429-01(PI James Brewer, MD, PhD), P50 AG023501 (PI Bruce Miller, MD), P30 AG035982 (PI Russell Swerdlow, MD), P30 AG028383 (PI Linda Van Eldik, PhD), P30 AG053760 (PI Henry Paulson, MD, PhD), P30 AG010124 (PI John Trojanowski, MD, PhD), P50 AG005133 (PI Oscar Lopez, MD), P50 AG005142 (PI Helena Chui, MD), P30 AG012300 (PI Roger Rosenberg, MD), P30 AG049638 (PI Suzanne Craft, PhD), P50 AG005136 (PI Thomas Gra-bowski, MD), P30 AG062715-01 (PI Sanjay Asthana, MD, FRCP), P50 AG005681 (PI John Morris, MD), P50 AG047270 (PI Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021-IOS Press. All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.3233/JAD-200908",

language = "English",

volume = "80",

pages = "855--864",

journal = "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease",

issn = "1387-2877",

publisher = "IOS Press",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Age-Related Hearing Loss, Neuropsychological Performance, and Incident Dementia in Older Adults

AU - Brewster, Katharine K.

AU - Hu, Mei Chen

AU - Wall, Melanie M.

AU - Brown, Patrick J.

AU - Zilcha-Mano, Sigal

AU - Roose, Steven P.

AU - Stein, Alexandra

AU - Golub, Justin S.

AU - Rutherford, Bret R.

N1 - Funding Information: The manuscript was supported by the NIMH Grants R25 MH086466 and T32 MH020004–22. The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s database is funded by NIA/NIH Grant U01 AG016976. NACC data are contributed by the NIA-funded ADCs: P30 AG019610 (PI Eric Reiman, MD), P30 AG013846 (PI Neil Kowall, MD), P30 AG062428-01 (PI James Leverenz, MD) P50 AG008702 (PI Scott Small, MD), P50 AG025688 (PI Allan Levey, MD, PhD), P50 AG047266 (PI Todd Golde, MD, PhD), P30 AG010133 (PI Andrew Saykin, PsyD), P50 AG005146 (PI Marilyn Albert, PhD), P30 AG062421-01 (PI Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD), P30 AG062422-01 (PI Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD), P50 AG005138 (PI Mary Sano, PhD), P30 AG008051 (PI Thomas Wisniewski, MD), P30 AG013854 (PI Robert Vassar, PhD), P30 AG008017 (PI Jeffrey Kaye, MD), P30 AG010161 (PI David Bennett, MD), P50 AG047366 (PI Victor Henderson, MD, MS), P30 AG010129 (PI Charles DeCarli, MD), P50 AG016573 (PI Frank LaFerla, PhD), P30 AG062429-01(PI James Brewer, MD, PhD), P50 AG023501 (PI Bruce Miller, MD), P30 AG035982 (PI Russell Swerdlow, MD), P30 AG028383 (PI Linda Van Eldik, PhD), P30 AG053760 (PI Henry Paulson, MD, PhD), P30 AG010124 (PI John Trojanowski, MD, PhD), P50 AG005133 (PI Oscar Lopez, MD), P50 AG005142 (PI Helena Chui, MD), P30 AG012300 (PI Roger Rosenberg, MD), P30 AG049638 (PI Suzanne Craft, PhD), P50 AG005136 (PI Thomas Gra-bowski, MD), P30 AG062715-01 (PI Sanjay Asthana, MD, FRCP), P50 AG005681 (PI John Morris, MD), P50 AG047270 (PI Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD). Publisher Copyright: © 2021-IOS Press. All rights reserved.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Background: Age-related hearing loss (HL) has been associated with dementia, though the neurocognitive profile of individuals with HL is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize the neurocognitive profile of HL. Methods: N=8,529 participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center ≥60 years and free of cognitive impairment who were characterized as Untreated-, Treated-, or No HL. Outcomes included executive function (Trail Making Test [TMT] Part B), episodic memory (Immediate/Delayed Recall), language fluency (Vegetables, Boston Naming Test), and conversion to dementia. Regression models were fit to examine associations between HL and neurocognitive performance at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models examined the links between HL, neurocognitive scores, and development of dementia over follow-up. Results: At baseline, those with Untreated HL (versus No HL) had worse neurocognitive performance per standardized difference on executive function (TMT Part B [mean difference=0.05 (95% CI 0.00, 0.10)]) and language fluency (Vegetables [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.14,-0.01)], Boston Naming Test [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.13,-0.01)]). No differences in these neurocognitive performance scores were demonstrated between Treated HL and No HL groups other than MMSE [mean difference=-0.06 (95% CI-0.12, 0.00)]. Through follow-up, executive dysfunction differed by hearing group (χ2(2)=46.08, p<0.0001) and was present among 39.12% in No HL, 44.85% in Untreated HL, and 49.40% in Treated HL. Worse performance across all cognitive domains predicted incident dementia. Conclusion: The observed association between Untreated HL and lower cognitive ability that improved when hearing aids were worn may reflect an inability to hear the test instructions. Future studies using cognitive assessments validated for use in HL are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HL and identify individuals at risk for dementia.

AB - Background: Age-related hearing loss (HL) has been associated with dementia, though the neurocognitive profile of individuals with HL is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize the neurocognitive profile of HL. Methods: N=8,529 participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center ≥60 years and free of cognitive impairment who were characterized as Untreated-, Treated-, or No HL. Outcomes included executive function (Trail Making Test [TMT] Part B), episodic memory (Immediate/Delayed Recall), language fluency (Vegetables, Boston Naming Test), and conversion to dementia. Regression models were fit to examine associations between HL and neurocognitive performance at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models examined the links between HL, neurocognitive scores, and development of dementia over follow-up. Results: At baseline, those with Untreated HL (versus No HL) had worse neurocognitive performance per standardized difference on executive function (TMT Part B [mean difference=0.05 (95% CI 0.00, 0.10)]) and language fluency (Vegetables [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.14,-0.01)], Boston Naming Test [mean difference=-0.07 (95% CI-0.13,-0.01)]). No differences in these neurocognitive performance scores were demonstrated between Treated HL and No HL groups other than MMSE [mean difference=-0.06 (95% CI-0.12, 0.00)]. Through follow-up, executive dysfunction differed by hearing group (χ2(2)=46.08, p<0.0001) and was present among 39.12% in No HL, 44.85% in Untreated HL, and 49.40% in Treated HL. Worse performance across all cognitive domains predicted incident dementia. Conclusion: The observed association between Untreated HL and lower cognitive ability that improved when hearing aids were worn may reflect an inability to hear the test instructions. Future studies using cognitive assessments validated for use in HL are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HL and identify individuals at risk for dementia.

KW - Alzheimer's disease

KW - cognitive dysfunction

KW - dementia

KW - hearing loss

KW - neuropsychological tests

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U2 - 10.3233/JAD-200908

DO - 10.3233/JAD-200908

M3 - Article

C2 - 33579835

AN - SCOPUS:85103642731

SN - 1387-2877

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SP - 855

EP - 864

JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

IS - 2

ER -

Age-Related Hearing Loss, Neuropsychological Performance, and Incident Dementia in Older Adults

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Bibliographical note

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