Sensory impairment and cognitive function among older adults in China: The mediating roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms. (14th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yixuan; Xu, Yanling; Yang, Xinyan; Miao, Guomei; Wu, Yinghui; Yang, Shujuan
• Is Part Of: International journal of geriatric psychiatry. Volume 38:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-01-14
• Subjects: anxiety -- cognitive function -- depressive symptoms -- sensory impairment; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Geriatric Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.5866
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6230

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Through a cross‐sectional study, we explored the association between sensory impairment and cognitive function in Chinese older adults, and tested the mediating roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms between this relationship. Methods: Based on the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a total of 10, 895 older adults aged 65 and above were selected as samples for research. Anxiety, depressive symptoms and cognitive function were evaluated by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES‐D10) and the Chinese version of modified Mini‐Mental State Examination scales, respectively. Sensory impairment was assessed from self‐reported vision and hearing functions. Multiple linear regression and SPSS Macro PROCESS were used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared with no sensory impairment, vision impairment ( B = −1.012, 95%CI: −1.206, −0.818), hearing impairment ( B = −2.683, 95%CI: −2.980, −2.386) and dual sensory impairment ( B = −6.302, 95%CI: −6.585, −6.020) have a significant association with cognitive function in older adults, respectively. Anxiety and depressive symptoms not only acted as independent mediators, but also played sequential mediating effects on the relationship between sensory impairment and cognitive function. Conclusions: Greater attention should be paid to anxiety and depressive symptoms of older adults with sensory impairment, which might be beneficial to maintain cognitive function. Key points: Sensory impairment including vision, hearing and dual sensory impairment significantly was closely related to poor cognitive function in older adults. Sensory impairment had a significant relationship with the higher risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depression symptoms independently and sequentially mediated the relationship between sensory impairment and cognitive function.