TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations of audiometric hearing and speech-in-noise performance with cognitive decline among older adults
T2 - The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA)
AU - Jiang, Kening
AU - Armstrong, Nicole M.
AU - Agrawal, Yuri
AU - Gross, Alden L.
AU - Schrack, Jennifer A.
AU - Lin, Frank R.
AU - Ferrucci, Luigi
AU - Resnick, Susan M.
AU - Deal, Jennifer A.
AU - Powell, Danielle S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Jiang, Armstrong, Agrawal, Gross, Schrack, Lin, Ferrucci, Resnick, Deal and Powell.
PY - 2022/12/9
Y1 - 2022/12/9
N2 - Background: Established associations between hearing loss and cognitive decline were primarily defined by pure-tone audiometry, which reflects peripheral hearing ability. Speech-in-noise performance, which reflects central hearing ability, is more limited in prior literature. We examined the longitudinal associations of audiometric hearing and speech-in-noise performance with cognitive decline. Methods: We studied 702 participants aged ≥60 years in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging 2012–2019. Global and domain-specific (language, memory, attention, executive function, visuospatial ability) cognitive performance were assessed by the cognitive assessment battery. Hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kilohertz obtained from pure-tone audiometry were averaged to calculate better-ear pure-tone average (PTA) and participants were categorized as having hearing loss (>25 decibels hearing level [dB HL]) or normal hearing (≤25 dB HL). Speech-in-noise performance was assessed by the Quick Speech-in-Noise (QuickSIN) test, and participants were categorized as having below-median (worse) or above-median performance. Linear mixed effects models with random intercepts and slopes were used to assess baseline cognitive performance and cognitive decline by hearing status. Models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and disease factors. Results: Participants with audiometric hearing loss showed similar baseline cognitive performance but faster decline in global cognitive function, language, executive function, and attention. Participants with below-median QuickSIN score showed worse baseline cognitive performance in all domains and faster decline in global cognitive function, language, memory, executive function and attention. Conclusions: Audiometric hearing might be targeted to delay cognitive decline. Speech-in-noise performance might be a novel marker and might be more sensitive to memory decline.
AB - Background: Established associations between hearing loss and cognitive decline were primarily defined by pure-tone audiometry, which reflects peripheral hearing ability. Speech-in-noise performance, which reflects central hearing ability, is more limited in prior literature. We examined the longitudinal associations of audiometric hearing and speech-in-noise performance with cognitive decline. Methods: We studied 702 participants aged ≥60 years in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging 2012–2019. Global and domain-specific (language, memory, attention, executive function, visuospatial ability) cognitive performance were assessed by the cognitive assessment battery. Hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kilohertz obtained from pure-tone audiometry were averaged to calculate better-ear pure-tone average (PTA) and participants were categorized as having hearing loss (>25 decibels hearing level [dB HL]) or normal hearing (≤25 dB HL). Speech-in-noise performance was assessed by the Quick Speech-in-Noise (QuickSIN) test, and participants were categorized as having below-median (worse) or above-median performance. Linear mixed effects models with random intercepts and slopes were used to assess baseline cognitive performance and cognitive decline by hearing status. Models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and disease factors. Results: Participants with audiometric hearing loss showed similar baseline cognitive performance but faster decline in global cognitive function, language, executive function, and attention. Participants with below-median QuickSIN score showed worse baseline cognitive performance in all domains and faster decline in global cognitive function, language, memory, executive function and attention. Conclusions: Audiometric hearing might be targeted to delay cognitive decline. Speech-in-noise performance might be a novel marker and might be more sensitive to memory decline.
KW - aging
KW - audiometry
KW - cognition
KW - hearing loss
KW - speech perception
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144936124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85144936124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fneur.2022.1029851
DO - 10.3389/fneur.2022.1029851
M3 - Article
C2 - 36570462
AN - SCOPUS:85144936124
SN - 1664-2295
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Neurology
JF - Frontiers in Neurology
M1 - 1029851
ER -