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P2‐610: DRIVING CESSATION IN DEMENTIA: A HOT TOPIC THAT IS STILL AVOIDED
Author(s) -
Naglie Gary,
Stasiulis Elaine,
Yamin Stephanie,
Vrkljan Brenda,
Tuokko Holly,
Sanford Sarah,
Porter Michelle,
Polgar Jan,
Myers Anita,
Moorhouse Paige,
Molnar Frank,
Mazer Barbara,
Marshall Shawn,
Gelinas Isabelle,
Crizzle Alexander,
Byszewski Anna,
Belchior Patricia,
Bedard Michael,
Rapoport Mark J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.3020
Subject(s) - dementia , context (archaeology) , thematic analysis , resistance (ecology) , psychology , intervention (counseling) , nursing , medicine , qualitative research , gerontology , family medicine , psychiatry , disease , sociology , geography , ecology , social science , archaeology , pathology , biology
use of hearing aids, although studies to date are small in size. Methods: Data from the PROTECT study was analysed. PROTECT is an innovative online UK based study (www.protect.org.uk) for cognitively healthy adults aged 50 and over. On study entry participants were invited to perform a range of cognitive tests, up to three times over seven days. They also self-reported current problems with their hearing and use of hearing aids. A repeated measures analysis was conducted. Gender, age, education and baseline performance were fitted as covariates. Results: 4372 participants reported hearing loss, of whom 1557 used a hearing aid (mean age 67.8, SD7.9) and 2815 did not (mean age 63.4, SD7.2). Of these cohorts, three-year cognitive trajectory data was available for 1001 and 1792 participants respectively. Measures of attention and working memory showed higher cognitive performance in individuals using hearing aids at baseline, albeit with small effect sizes. Measures of attention, working memory and episodic memory showed a significantly worse trajectory over three years in participants who did not use hearing aids. Conclusions: This data provides a largescale longitudinal analysis on the association between hearing loss and cognition, supporting the hypothesis that use of hearing aids maintains cognitive function over time. This warrants further exploration as an easily modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment in older adults.