Impact of sensory organs on activities in older adults: a relationship between audiovisual and mild cognitive impairment.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21183
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology
• Principal Investigator: Tomida Kouki 国立研究開発法人国立長寿医療研究センター, 研究所 老年学・社会科学研究センター, 特任研究員 (10909261)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 感覚器 / 視覚 / 聴覚 / 軽度認知障害 / 日常生活活動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to examine how visual and hearing impairment, a common symptom of geriatric syndromes, affects cognitive function and activities of daily living. The results suggest that the prevalence of dual sensory impairment, with both visual and hearing impairment, is approximately 11% among community-dwelling older adults. These dual sensory impairments were shown to be significantly associated with mild cognitive impairment compared to those with single sensory impairment or no sensory impairment. In addition, dual sensory impairment was shown to limit instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive, social and productive activities compared to those with no sensory impairment, which was associated with a narrower life space two years later.

Free Research Field

老年学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

世界的に進む高齢化に伴い、視覚や聴覚障害、および二重感覚障害（視覚。聴覚障害が両方ある状態）者数は増加傾向である。本研究成果は、これまでの先行研究を支持するものであり、二重感覚障害が生活範囲の狭小化と関連することを示した最初の研究報告のため、今後の二重感覚障害者への予防策を講じる上で重要な知見になると考えられる。
加齢に伴う視力や聴力の低下は、最も一般的な老年症候群の症状であり、高齢期のアクティブなライフスタイルの妨げとなる可能性がある。そのため、要介護や認知症予防の観点からも、加齢に伴う視力や聴力の低下に対しては、治療可能な早期より適切な診断と治療の重要性が高まっている。