Sensory impairment and algorithmic classification of early cognitive impairment

INTRODUCTION: Sensory impairment (SI) is linked to cognitive decline, but its association with early cognitive impairment (ECI) is unclear. METHODS: Sensory functions (vision, hearing, vestibular function, proprioception, and olfaction) were measured between 2012 and 2018 in 414 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) participants (age 74 ± 9 years; 55% women). ECI was defined as 1 standard deviation below age‐, sex‐, race‐, and education‐specific mean performance in Card Rotations or California Verbal Learning Test immediate recall. Log binomial models (cross‐sectional analysis) and Cox regression models (time‐to‐event analysis) were used to examine the association between SI and ECI. RESULTS: Cross‐sectionally, participants with ≥3 SI had twice the prevalence of ECI (prevalence ratio = 2.10, p = 0.02). Longitudinally, there was no significant association between SI and incident ECI over up to 6 years of follow‐up. DISCUSSION: SI is associated with higher prevalence, but not incident ECI. Future studies with large sample sizes need to further elucidate the relationship between SI and ECI. HIGHLIGHTS: Sensory impairment is associated with high prevalence of early cognitive impairment. Multisensory impairment may pose a strong risk of early changes in cognitive function. Identifying multisensory impairment may help early detection of dementia;