Longitudinal associations between hearing loss and general cognitive ability: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.

ABSTRACT: Hearing impairment is associated with poorer cognitive function in later life. We tested for the potential contribution of childhood cognitive ability to this relationship. Childhood cognitive ability is strongly related to cognitive function in older age, and may be related to auditory function through its association with hearing impairment risk factors. Using data from the Lothian Birth Cohort, 1936, we tested whether childhood cognitive ability predicted later-life hearing ability then whether this association was mediated by demographic or health differences. We found that childhood cognitive ability was negatively associated with hearing impairment risk at age 76 (odds ratio = .834, p = .042). However, this association was nonsignificant after subsequent adjustment for potentially me

SUBMITTER: Okely JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6742482 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature