Grant: Catal. Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data - Brain Health and Cognit. Impairm. in Aging

Hearing and vision loss are associated with cognitive decline in older age, but the reasons are not known. If sensory loss causes cognitive decline, then preventing or treating hearing loss and vision loss might improve brain health. On the other hand, if there are common factors leading to sensory and cognitive problems, then achieving better sensory health would not improve cognition. People with the underlying factor, however, might be targeted for interventions to mitigate its effects. Not everyone with hearing- and/or vision losses develop cognitive problems. Factors that influence the degree to which hearing and/or vision loss are linked to cognitive decline are not known. Understanding such factors might lead to more personalized care (e.g., counselling about the risk of cognitive decline) for people with sensory loss. Our study aims to use genetic information to clarify if sensory loss causes cognitive decline, or if the observed links between sensory loss and cognitive decline are driven by common genetic risk factors. We will also determine if the genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's disease modifies the risk of cognitive decline associated with hearing- and/or vision loss. Our study will use data provided by adults (age 45-85 years) participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The CLSA includes more than 26,000 participants with detailed information about hearing, vision, cognition and genetics. Cognitive changes will be assessed over 6 years of follow-up. Males and females will be assessed separately. The study may provide evidence for or against the hypothesis that treating sensory loss improves cognition and/or identify groups for whom the risk of cognitive decline associated with sensory loss is elevated, who may be prioritized for interventions. Hearing and vision loss are very common, and thus the research may be relevant to hundreds of millions of people in Canada and around the world.