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ABSTRACT: Objectives
Late-life depression is a comorbidity that may co-occur in older adults with hearing loss-each has prevalent and independent modifiable risk factors for dementia.Methods
Using data from 1,820 Health, Aging and Body Composition study participants (74 ± 2.8 years, 38% Black race), we compared the hearing loss-dementia/cognitive decline relationship between those with normal hearing/mild hearing loss and those with moderate or greater hearing loss. Using linear mixed-effects and Cox proportional hazard models, we investigated if the associations between hearing loss and cognitive decline or dementia (Modified Mini-Mental State [3MS] Examination and Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]) differed by the presence or absence of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were defined as Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression scale 10 ≥10 at one or more visits from Years 1-5. Algorithmic incident dementia was defined using medication use, hospitalizations, and cognitive test scores. Audiometric hearing loss was measured at Year 5 and categorized as normal/mild versus moderate or greater hearing loss.Results
Having both hearing loss and depressive symptoms (vs. having neither) was associated with faster rates of decline in 3MS Examination (β = -0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.78, -0.19) and DSST (β = -0.35; 95% CI: -0.67, -0.03) over 10 years of follow-up. Having both hearing loss and depressive symptoms (vs. neither) was associated with increased risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.59, 5.33 vs. HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.15 hearing loss only and HR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.56, 3.53 depressive symptoms only) of incident dementia in multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.Discussion
Comorbid conditions among hearing-impaired older adults should be considered and may aid in dementia prevention and management strategies.
SUBMITTER: Powell DS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9071460 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Powell Danielle S DS Brenowitz Willa D WD Yaffe Kristine K Armstrong Nicole M NM Reed Nicholas S NS Lin Frank R FR Gross Alden L AL Deal Jennifer A JA
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20220501 5
<h4>Objectives</h4>Late-life depression is a comorbidity that may co-occur in older adults with hearing loss-each has prevalent and independent modifiable risk factors for dementia.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from 1,820 Health, Aging and Body Composition study participants (74 ± 2.8 years, 38% Black race), we compared the hearing loss-dementia/cognitive decline relationship between those with normal hearing/mild hearing loss and those with moderate or greater hearing loss. Using linear mixed-effe ...[more]