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Hearing loss and cognition in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Lin FR, Ferrucci L, Metter EJ, An Y, Zonderman AB, Resnick SM.. Neuropsychology, 2011-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To determine the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function as assessed with a standardized neurocognitive battery. We hypothesized a priori that greater hearing loss is associated with lower cognitive test scores on tests of memory and executive function. Method A cross-sectional cohort of 347 participants ≥ 55 years in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging without mild cognitive impairment or dementia had audiometric and cognitive testing performed in 1990-1994. Hearing loss was defined by an average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better-hearing ear. Cognitive testing consisted of a standardized neurocognitive battery incorporating tests of mental status, memory, executive function, processing speed, and verbal function. Regression models were used to examine the association between hearing loss and cognition while adjusting for confounders. Results Greater hearing loss was significantly associated with lower scores on measures of mental status (Mini-Mental State Exam), memory (Free Recall), and executive function (Stroop Mixed, Trail Making B). These results were robust to analyses accounting for potential confounders, nonlinear effects of age, and exclusion of individuals with severe hearing loss. The reduction in cognitive performance associated with a 25 dB hearing loss was equivalent to the reduction associated with an age difference of 6.8 years. Conclusion Hearing loss is independently associated with lower scores on tests of memory and executive function. Further research examining the longitudinal association of hearing loss with cognitive functioning is needed to confirm these cross-sectional findings.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lin, F. R., Ferrucci, L., Metter, E. J., An, Y., Zonderman, A. B., & Resnick, S. M. (2011). Hearing loss and cognition in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Neuropsychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024238
Vancouver
Lin FR, Ferrucci L, Metter EJ, An Y, Zonderman AB, Resnick SM. Hearing loss and cognition in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Neuropsychology. 2011. doi:10.1037/a0024238. PMID: 21728425.
BibTeX
@article{lin2011-21728425,
author = {Lin, F. R. and Ferrucci, L. and Metter, E. J. and An, Y. and Zonderman, A. B. and Resnick, S. M.},
title = {{Hearing loss and cognition in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging}},
journal = {Neuropsychology},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1037/a0024238},
pmid = {21728425},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024238}
}
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Key findings
- We hypothesized a priori that greater hearing loss is associated with lower cognitive test scores on tests of memory and executive function.
- Results Greater hearing loss was significantly associated with lower scores on measures of mental status (Mini-Mental State Exam), memory (Free Recall), and executive function (Stroop Mixed, Trail Making B).
- These results were robust to analyses accounting for potential confounders, nonlinear effects of age, and exclusion of individuals with severe hearing loss.
- The reduction in cognitive performance associated with a 25 dB hearing loss was equivalent to the reduction associated with an age difference of 6.8 years.
- Conclusion Hearing loss is independently associated with lower scores on tests of memory and executive function.
Why it matters
Among 347 adults aged 55 or older in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, none with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, worse hearing on a hearing test was linked to lower scores on tests of mental status, memory and executive function, and this held after adjusting for confounders. On average, the drop in scores linked to 25 dB of hearing loss matched the drop linked to being 6.8 years older. Because everyone was tested only once (1990-1994), the study cannot show that hearing loss causes cognitive decline or that treating it would prevent dementia; the authors call for longitudinal studies to confirm it.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants347
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuropsychology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Neuropsychology: journal h-index 183 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 347 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 699 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 41.1 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 17 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 119 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Susan M. Resnick: h-index 117 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21728425) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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