Sensory impairment and dementia risk among older adults in rural South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

South Africa faces growing dementia challenges, worsened by limited medical resources and low education. Modifiable risk factors like hearing and vision impairments remain understudied despite their high prevalence.

Methods

We analyzed data from 567 participants in a rural South African cohort to examine the associations between vision and hearing impairment, and dementia outcomes. Multinomial logistic regression assessed associations between sensory impairments (distance vision, near vision, hearing) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Linear regression examined sensory impairment and predicted dementia probability score 2 years later.

Results

Half of the participants were over 70, with no formal education. Sensory impairments were common, e

SUBMITTER: Guo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12281023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature