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Age-Related Sensory Impairments and Risk of Cognitive Impairment
Fischer ME, Cruickshanks KJ, Schubert CR, Pinto AA, Carlsson CM, Klein BE, Klein R, Tweed TS.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2016-09-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives To evaluate the associations between sensory impairments and 10-year risk of cognitive impairment. Design The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study (EHLS), a longitudinal, population-based study of aging in the Beaver Dam, Wisconsin community. Baseline examinations were conducted in 1993 and follow-up examinations have been conducted every 5 years. Setting General community. Participants EHLS members without cognitive impairment at EHLS-2 (1998-2000). There were 1,884 participants (mean age 66.7) with complete EHLS-2 sensory data and follow-up information. Measurements Cognitive impairment was defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 25 dB hearing level in either ear, visual impairment was a Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity of Results Hearing, visual, and olfactory impairment were independently associated with cognitive impairment risk (hearing: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-3.26; vision: HR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.24-3.38; olfaction: HR = 3.92, 95% CI = 2.45-6.26)). Nevertheless, 85% of participants with hearing impairment, 81% with visual impairment, and 76% with olfactory impairment did not develop cognitive impairment during follow-up. Conclusion The relationship between sensory impairment and cognitive impairment was not unique to one sensory system, suggesting that sensorineural health may be a marker of brain aging. The development of a combined sensorineurocognitive measure may be useful in uncovering mechanisms of healthy brain aging.
Key findings
- Measurements Cognitive impairment was defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination score of <24 or history of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
- Conclusion The relationship between sensory impairment and cognitive impairment was not unique to one sensory system, suggesting that sensorineural health may be a marker of brain aging.
Why it matters
This study found that hearing, vision and smell impairment were each linked to higher risk of cognitive impairment over 10 years. However, most participants with these impairments did not develop cognitive impairment, and the authors suggest sensory health may be a marker of brain aging rather than a cause.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,884
- Effect sizeHR = 2.05; HR = 3.92
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 65/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: journal h-index 344 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,884 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 239 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.9 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 60 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ted S. Tweed: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Wisconsin–Madison: institution h-index 1,518 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27611845) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 65 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Fischer, M. E., Cruickshanks, K. J., Schubert, C. R., Pinto, A. A., Carlsson, C. M., Klein, B. E., et al. (2016). Age-Related Sensory Impairments and Risk of Cognitive Impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14308
Vancouver
Fischer ME, Cruickshanks KJ, Schubert CR, Pinto AA, Carlsson CM, Klein BE, et al. Age-Related Sensory Impairments and Risk of Cognitive Impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2016. doi:10.1111/jgs.14308. PMID: 27611845.
BibTeX
@article{fischer2016-27611845,
author = {Fischer, M. E. and Cruickshanks, K. J. and Schubert, C. R. and Pinto, A. A. and Carlsson, C. M. and Klein, B. E. and Klein, R. and Tweed, T. S.},
title = {{Age-Related Sensory Impairments and Risk of Cognitive Impairment}},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1111/jgs.14308},
pmid = {27611845},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14308}
}
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