Understanding the Association Between Sensory Impairment and Dementia: Toward Informing Future Research and Health Policy

Article type: Article Commentary

Authors: Loughrey, David G.^{a; b; *} | Leroi, Iracema^{a; b; c}

Affiliations: [a] Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland | [b] Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA | [c] Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: David Loughrey, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel.: +353 1 896 8484; E-mail: loughred@tcd.ie.

Abstract: Recent epidemiological research has linked decline in multiple sensory functions with an increased risk of dementia. However, the pathways linking such factors with neurodegenerative disorders remain unclear. Studies that assess this are crucial for guiding the distribution of public health resources and the development of clinical trials aiming to delay or prevent dementia. This commentary examines the contribution of a study by Dintica and colleagues to the field of sensory-cognitive research.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, hearing loss, mechanisms, sensory loss, vision loss

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230472

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 597-599, 2023