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OBJECTIVES: To determine the accuracy of self-reported mammography use and generate a correction factor that adjusts for reporting errors among Mexican-American women. DESIGN: Self-reported mammography use was compared with a medical chart review. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 199 Mexican-American women aged 50-74 in southeast Texas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported mammography use for the preceding 2 years and mammography use determined by medical chart review. RESULTS: Positive and negative predictive values of mammography self-reports in the previous 2 years were 73.9 and 86.0%, respectively. The correction factor was 79.6%, or approximately 80% of the self-reported mammograms within the preceding 2 years could be verified through medical chart reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Mammography use rates among Mexican-American women were not as high as self-reports indicated. Estimates need to be adjusted downward by approximately 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vision impairment can have an impact on cognition, health, and social function. Vision loss may be avoided if detected early and treated promptly. Eye health is a minor topic in general practice, but the ongoing relationship between doctor and patient has the potential to assist the patient in navigating the healthcare system and guaranteeing timely healthcare service delivery. Aim: To explore the attitudes of older members of the public (aged =60 years) towards navigating primary sector eye health care in Denmark, with a focus on optometrists, practising ophthalmologists (POs), and GPs. Design & setting: Qualitative study in Copenhagen, Denmark. Method: Focus group interviews were performed in the spring of 2022 with 21 older members of the public. Results: Older members of the public perceived optometrists and POs to be the most relevant health professionals to consult about eye health. Opportunities were identified for enhancing the function of general practice including detecting early signs of visual impairment, being in charge of further referrals, and managing issues affecting quality of life such as dry eyes. Conclusion: Older members of the public sought help from health professionals who are directly qualified to treat symptoms of vision impairment that patients are experiencing or expect to face in the near future. Participants identified a potential for GPs to address vision impairment. This included focusing on the patient's general health and function, as well as potential comorbidities influencing treatment trajectories. The current denigration of general practice risks missing out on the potential benefits of robust engagement from general practice in eye health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cognitive training is delivered visually and aurally. It is unknown whether self‐reported sensory difficulty modifies the effects of cognitive training on cognition. METHODS: Participants (N = 2788) in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Study were randomized to training in memory, reasoning, speed of processing, or control. Differences in the 10‐year effect of cognitive training on cognition by self‐reported vision and hearing difficulty were assessed using linear mixed effect models. RESULTS: Benefit (intervention vs. control) of reasoning training was smaller among participants with versus without vision difficulty (difficulty: –0.25, 95% confidence interval: [–0.88, 0.39], no difficulty: 0.58 [0.28, 0.89]). Benefit of memory training was greater for participants with versus without hearing difficulty (difficulty: 0.17 [–0.37, 0.72], no difficulty: –0.20 [–0.65, 0.24]). DISCUSSION: Older adults with sensory loss have increased risk for cognitive decline; benefits of cognitive training may be greater for these individuals. Sensory loss should be considered in training design. Highlights: Memory training was more beneficial for participants with hearing loss.Participants with vision difficulties did not benefit as much from reasoning training.Low accessibility in design and learned compensation strategies may contribute.Consideration of sensory impairment in study design is needed.Inclusion of older adults with sensory impairment in cognitive training is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To estimate the association between sensory impairment and cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans., Design: A prospective cohort study., Setting: The Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly from five southwestern states., Participants: The sample consisted of 2,140 noninstitutionalized Mexican Americans aged 65 and older followed from 1993/1994 until 2000/2001., Measurements: The outcome, cognitive function decline, was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination blind version (MMSE-blind) at baseline and at 2, 5, and 7 years of follow-up. Other variables were near vision, distance vision, hearing, demographics (age, sex, marital status, living arrangements, and education), depressive symptoms, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, heart attack, and functional status. A general linear mixed model was used to estimate cognitive decline at follow-up., Results: In a fully adjusted model, MMSE-blind scores of subjects with near vision impairment decreased 0.62 points (standard error (SE)=0.29, P=.03) over 2 years and decreased (slope of decline) 0.13 points (SE=0.07, P=.045) more per year than scores of subjects with adequate near vision. Other independent predictors of cognitive decline were baseline MMSE-blind score, age, education, marital status, depressive symptoms, and number of activity of daily living limitations., Conclusion: Near vision impairment, but not distance vision or hearing impairments, was associated with cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans.

Background: This report describes the prevalence and correlates of functional blindness and visual impairment among older Mexican Americans, using data on 2800 respondents from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly., Methods: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between corrected bilateral distant vision and sociodemographic characteristics, selected health conditions, self-reported health status, health care utilization, and functional dependence on the basis of assistance needed for basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs)., Results: Using a modified Snellen test for distance visual acuity, 5% of older Mexican Americans were found to be functionally blind, and 13.5% were found to be visually impaired. Vision loss was significantly associated with older age, lower education, hypertension, diabetes, poor self-rated health, and hospitalization during the year prior to the interview. Over 50% of functionally blind subjects required assistance with at least one basic ADL, compared with 15% of those who were visually impaired and 8% of those who were not visually impaired., Conclusions: The prevalence of functional blindness in this sample of elderly Mexican Americans was higher than reported for the general elderly population, yet they also have higher rates of adequate vision because of the low prevalence of visual impairment. The results suggest a need for more research on the prevalence and impact of functional blindness and visual impairment on the health of older Mexican Americans.

Objective: The health burden of self-reported diabetes was compared across three ethnic groups of older adults., Methods: Analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to compare ethnic differences in the rates of co-morbid chronic health conditions, complications, and disability for older diabetics vs non-diabetics, in a sample of 173 Mexican Americans, 201 African Americans, and 181 non-Hispanic whites, all aged 75 and older., Results: The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was significantly higher in older Mexican Americans (17.6%) and African Americans (16.4%) than in non-Hispanic whites (8.5%). In all three ethnic groups, and after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, diabetics were found to be generally at higher risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, circulation and foot problems, obesity, and impaired vision and activities of daily living. Multivariate analyses indicated that the burden of diabetes appeared to be greatest among non-Hispanic white diabetics. We suggest that this is the result of higher diabetes-mortality rates among minority diabetics at earlier ages., Conclusions: Diabetes is known to be increasing in prevalence and incidence, particularly among the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the population. Our findings indicate that regardless of ethnicity, diabetes carries an increased burden that affects both the functioning and the quality of life of older adults.

Objective: Endoscopic biopsy and serological methods were compared for their ability to detect Helicobacter pylori infection in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a state university hospital., Methods: Subjects were characterized on the basis of gastrointestinal symptoms, endoscopic findings, socioeconomic and demographic features, and the use of certain medications, tobacco, and alcohol. Current infection was detected in gastric antral specimens by rapid urease testing, histopathology, and bacterial culture. Serum levels of IgG to H. pylori were measured by ELISA., Results: Of 240 subjects, 115 (47.9%) were currently infected as determined by rapid urease testing, histopathology, and/or culture results, whereas 63.3% had elevated anti-H. pylori IgG levels (p < 0.001). This difference in the prevalence of current infection and seropositivity was preserved when the study population was analyzed according to age, race, gender, and other characteristics. Prior use of antibiotics was associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of H. pylori infection., Conclusions: Serological evidence of H. pylori infection was consistently greater than the prevalence of infection documented by biopsy methods in this study, suggesting suppression or recent clearance of infection. Further studies are needed to examine the factors that may affect the detection of H. pylori infection.

The ability of the Alamar microdilution MIC system to detect vancomycin resistance in enterococci was evaluated by comparing the results with an agar dilution screen method. Of 100 strains tested, 41 were resistant and 47 were susceptible by both tests. Five strains were intermediate and one was resistant by the Alamar MIC system but susceptible by the agar screen. Three strains each were susceptible or intermediate by the Alamar MIC system but resistant by the agar screen. The predictive values for the Alamar MIC system were 94% (susceptible) and 88% (combined intermediate and resistant). The Alamar MIC system does not appear to have sufficient accuracy for the detection or confirmation of vancomycin resistance in enterococci.

Lectins have been implicated as recognition molecules in the invertebrate immune response, yet their capacity to recognize (agglutinate and/or opsonize) potentially invasive microorganisms is largely unknown. In this study, sera from six species of marine molluscs (oyster, clam, octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and sea hare) were found to agglutinate 64 of 94 bacterial isolates (15 genera, 36 species) and seven types of vertebrate erythrocytes. Oyster, clam, and octopus sera agglutinated the greatest number of bacterial isolates and oyster serum exhibited the highest intensity and titer of agglutination. Agglutination was isolate dependent, implying high lectin specificity. Titers were highly variable for wild populations of oysters and sea hares and relatively constant for F4-generation cuttlefish reared in aquaculture systems. Simultaneous agglutination of specific bacterial isolates indicated conservation of lectin specificity between oyster and clam sera (bivalves) and between squid and cuttlefish sera (cephalopods).

Background: Cadmium (Cd) flows into the ocean with industrial and agricultural pollution and significantly affects the growth and development of economic cephalopods such as Sepia esculenta, Amphioctopus fangsiao, and Loligo japonica. As of now, the reasons why Cd affects the growth and development of S. esculenta are not yet clear. Results: In this study, transcriptome and four oxidation and toxicity indicators are used to analyze the toxicological mechanism of Cd-exposed S. esculenta larvae. Indicator results indicate that Cd induces oxidative stress and metal toxicity. Functional enrichment analysis results suggest that larval ion transport, cell adhesion, and some digestion and absorption processes are inhibited, and the cell function is damaged. Comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interaction network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to explore S. esculenta larval toxicological mechanisms, and we find that among the 20 identified key genes, 14 genes are associated with neurotoxicity. Most of them are down-regulated and enriched to the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway, suggesting that larval nervous system might be destroyed, and the growth, development, and movement process are significantly affected after Cd exposure. Conclusions: S. esculenta larvae suffered severe oxidative damage after Cd exposure, which may inhibit digestion and absorption functions, and disrupt the stability of the nervous system. Our results lay a function for understanding larval toxicological mechanisms exposed to heavy metals, promoting the development of invertebrate environmental toxicology, and providing theoretical support for S. esculenta artificial culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of vision impairment (VI) and blindness and their determinants in the elderly population of Tehran. In a cross-sectional study, multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select a sample of over 60 year population of Tehran. Optometric examinations included the measurement of uncorrected visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, presenting and best corrected visual acuity. Vision impairment is reported according to the WHO definition. Visual acuity worse than 20/60 and 20/400 in the better eye was regarded as low vision and blindness, respectively. According to presenting visual acuity, VI was found in 14.8% (95%CI: 13.1–16.5) of the participants, including low vision in 13.8% (95%CI: 12.2–15.4) and blindness in 1.1% (95%CI: 0.5–1.6). The prevalence of VI ranged between 7.8% (95%CI: 6.0–9.5) in subjects aged 60–64 years and 40.0% (95%CI: 33.0–47.0) in participants over 80 years (p <.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that older age (OR = 1.07(per year)), lower education level (illiterate versus college: OR = 3.55), and lower economic status (middle versus rich: OR = 1.30 and poor versus rich; OR = 1.72) had a significant relationship with an increase in the prevalence of VI, and older age (OR = 1.14(Per year increase)) and diabetes (OR = 2.62) had a significant relationship with blindness. Refractive errors (63.1%) was the leading cause of VI followed by cataract (22.5%). However, cataract (48.3%) was the leading cause of blindness. Many older adults suffer from VI. Correction of refractive errors and cataract reduces a large percentage of VI. Age, education level, and economic status are other determinants of VI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between sensory impairment including vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), dual impairment (DI) and the functional limitations of SCD (SCD-related FL) are still unclear in middle-aged and older people. Methods: 162,083 participants from BRFSS in 2019 to 2020 was used in this cross-sectional study. After adjusting the weights, multiple logistic regression was used to study the relationship between sensory impairment and SCD or SCD-related FL. In addition, we performed subgroup analysis on the basis of interaction between sensory impairment and covariates. Results: Participants who reported sensory impairment were more likely to report SCD or SCD-related FL compared to those without sensory impairment (p < 0.001). The association between dual impairment and SCD-related FL was the strongest, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were [HI, 2.88 (2.41, 3.43); VI, 3.15(2.61, 3.81); DI, 6.78(5.43, 8.47)] respectively. In addition, subgroup analysis showed that men with sensory impairment were more likely to report SCD-related FL than women, the aORs and 95% CI were [HI, 3.15(2.48, 3.99) vs2.69(2.09, 3.46); VI,3.67(2.79, 4.83) vs. 2.86(2.22, 3.70); DI, 9.07(6.67, 12.35) vs. 5.03(3.72, 6.81)] respectively. The subject of married with dual impairment had a stronger association with SCD-related FL than unmarried subjects the aOR and 95% CI was [9.58(6.69, 13.71) vs. 5.33(4.14, 6.87)]. Conclusions: Sensory impairment was strongly associated with SCD and SCD-related FL. Individuals with dual impairment had the greatest possibility to reported SCD-related FL, and the association was stronger for men or married subjects than other subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A patient with a long history of arthritis developed pneumonia. Two weeks into her hospital course, the patient developed effusions in her knee and wrist that yielded cultures positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of M pneumoniae isolation from a joint and the first report of isolation of M pneumoniae from two joints in a patient without hypogammaglobulinemia. The evidence suggests that in individuals with atypical pneumonia and joint effusions, M pneumoniae should be considered as a source of infection.

Biopsy specimens from the gastric antral mucosa of 50 patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints were studied by light and electron microscopy and culture. Of 46 assessable specimens, seven were histologically normal, and 39 showed evidence of gastritis. Twenty-seven of the specimens with evidence of gastritis (69%) contained spiral bacteria, whereas only one of the normal specimens (14%) contained these bacteria (P = .02). Of 17 patients found to have gastric ulcers, 10 (59% [P greater than .10] ) also had spiral bacteria. The bacteria could be seen scattered over the surface of the epithelial cells and just under the layer of mucus but were rarely found inside the epithelial cells. Curved or spiral gramnegative bacilli were isolated from 10 of the specimens on chocolate agar incubated at 37 C under microaerophilic conditions. The bacteria resembled the organism recently named Campylobacter pyloridis by other investigators.

The progressive aging of the population will notably increase the burden of those diseases which leads to a disabling situation, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and ophthalmological diseases that cause a visual impairment (VI). Eye diseases that cause a VI raise neuroplastic processes in the parietal lobe. Meanwhile, the aforementioned lobe suffers a severe decline throughout AD. From this perspective, diving deeper into the particularities of the parietal lobe is of paramount importance. In this article, we discuss the functions of the parietal lobe, review the parietal anatomical and pathophysiological peculiarities in AD, and also describe some of the changes in the parietal region that occur after VI. Although the alterations in the hippocampus and the temporal lobe have been well documented in AD, the alterations of the parietal lobe have been less thoroughly explored. Recent neuroimaging studies have revealed that some metabolic and perfusion impairments along with a reduction of the white and grey matter could take place in the parietal lobe during AD. Conversely, it has been speculated that blinding ocular diseases induce a remodeling of the parietal region which is observable through the improvement of the integration of multimodal stimuli and in the increase of the volume of this cortical region. Based on current findings concerning the parietal lobe in both pathologies, we hypothesize that the increased activity of the parietal lobe in people with VI may diminish the neurodegeneration of this brain region in those who are visually impaired by oculardiseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the longitudinal association between vision-related variables and the 3-year change in cognitive test scores in a community-dwelling sample of adults and to explore whether sex, education, or hearing loss act as effect modifiers. Data came from two waves of a 3-year population-based prospective cohort study (Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging), which consisted of 30,097 randomly selected people aged 45–85 years from 7 Canadian provinces. Visual impairment (VI) was defined as binocular presenting visual acuity worse than 20/40. Participants were asked if they had ever had a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or cataract. Cognitive change over 3 years was examined by calculating the difference between baseline and follow-up scores for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the RAVLT delayed test (memory tests), the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) and the Animal Naming Test (ANT) (verbal fluency tests), and the Mental Alternation Test (MAT) (processing speed test). Multiple linear regression was used. VI, AMD, and cataract were not associated with 3-year changes on any of the 5 cognitive tests after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, income, smoking, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and province. A report of glaucoma was associated with greater declines in MAT scores (β = -0.60, 95% CI -1.03, -0.18). No effect modification was detected. Glaucoma was associated with worsening processing speed. Further research to confirm this finding and to understand the possible reason is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the detrimental impacts of visual and cognitive impairment separately, in older adults, understanding their coexistence could inform strategies against age-related cognitive changes.Methods: Participants from Washington County (White) and Jackson (Black) sites of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were recruited who differed on racial, regional, urbanicity, and community-based factors. Presenting distance visual acuity (DVA; representing vision loss due to disease or lack of eye-care), corrected DVA (representing optimal correction for refractive loss of vision), and contrast sensitivity were measured. Factor scores for global cognition, memory, executive function, and language domains were calculated for 3 visits. We quantified the associations of vision measures with change in cognitive scores, stratified by community/race, using generalized estimating equations.Results: In 982 participants, mean (standard deviation [SD]) baseline age was 74 (4) years, with 37% males and 45% Jackson/Black participants. As hypothesized, after accounting for potential confounders, in the better-eye, worse presenting DVA was associated with greater 10-year decline rate in global cognition, memory, and executive function in Washington County/White participants (eg, global cognition: -0.08 SD [95% confidence interval: -0.12, -0.04]). Worse corrected DVA was associated with greater 10-year decline rate in executive function in Washington County/White participants (-0.10 SD [-0.15, -0.04]). Better contrast sensitivity was associated with lower 10-year decline rate in global cognition and executive function in Washington County/White participants (eg, global cognition: 0.10 SD [0.06,0.14]). None of these associations were confirmed in Jackson/Black participants.Conclusions: Our study supports a functional link between some vision measures and cognition in older adults, but in only 1 of the 2 communities studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Visual impairment is a major cause of disability and impairment of cognitive function in older people. Brain structural changes associated with visual function impairment are not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the association between visual function and cortical thickness in older adults. Methods: Participants were selected from the French population-based ESPRIT cohort of 2259 community-dwelling adults ≥ 65 years old enrolled between 1999 and 2001. We considered visual function and brain MRI images at the 12-year follow-up in participants who were right-handed and free of dementia and/or stroke, randomly selected from the whole cohort. High-resolution structural T1-weighted brain scans acquired with a 3-Tesla scanner. Regional reconstruction and segmentation involved using the FreeSurfer image-analysis suite. Results: A total of 215 participants were included (mean [SD] age 81.8 [3.7] years; 53.0% women): 30 (14.0%) had central vision loss and 185 (86.0%) normal central vision. Vision loss was associated with thinner cortical thickness in the right insula (within the lateral sulcus of the brain) as compared with the control group (mean thickness 2.38 [0.04] vs 2.50 [0.03] mm, 4.8% thinning, pcorrected= 0.04) after adjustment for age, sex, lifetime depression and cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: The present study describes a significant thinning of the right insular cortex in older adults with vision loss. The insula subserves a wide variety of functions in humans ranging from sensory and affective processing to high-level cognitive processing. Reduced insula thickness associated with vision loss may increase cognitive burden in the ageing brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual impairment is associated with deficits in cognitive function and risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the degree of visual impairment and explore the association thereof with cortical atrophy in brain regions associated with visual processing in individuals with (or at risk for) AD.Methods: Using the Comprehensive Assessment of Neurodegeneration and Dementia (COMPASS-ND) dataset, we analyzed vision and brain imaging data from three diagnostic groups: individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD; N = 35), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; N = 74), and mild AD (N = 30). We used ANCOVAs to determine whether performance on reading acuity and contrast sensitivity tests differed across diagnostic groups. Hierarchical regression analyses were applied to determine whether visual performance predicted gray matter volume for vision-related regions of interest above and beyond group membership.Results: The AD group performed significantly worse on reading acuity (F(2,138) = 4.12, p < 0.01, ω2 = 0.04) compared to the SCD group and on contrast sensitivity (F(2,138) = 7.6, p < 0.01, ω2 = 0.09) compared to the SCD and MCI groups, which did not differ from each other. Visual performance was associated with volume in some vision-related structures beyond clinical diagnosis.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate poor visual performance in AD and that both group membership and visual performance are predictors of cortical pathology, consistent with the idea that atrophy in visual areas and pathways contributes to the functional vision deficits observed in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The association between visual impairment and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has not been investigated to date. Thus, we assessed this association among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (China, India, Ghana, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa) using nationally representative datasets. Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. Visual acuity was measured using the tumbling ElogMAR chart, and vision impairment (at distance and near) was defined as visual acuity worse than 6/18 (0.48 logMAR) in the better-seeing eye. The definition of MCI was based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted. Results: Data on 32,715 individuals aged ≥ 50 years [mean (SD) age 62.1 (15.6) years; 51.2% females] were analyzed. Compared to those without far or near vision impairment, those with near vision impairment but not far vision impairment (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.16–1.52), and those with both far and near vision impairment (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.27–2.29) had significantly higher odds for MCI. Only having far vision impairment was not significantly associated with MCI. Conclusions: Visual impairment is associated with increased odds for MCI among older adults in LMICs with the exception of far vision impairment only. Future longitudinal and intervention studies should examine causality and whether improvements in visual acuity, or early intervention, can reduce risk for MCI and ultimately, dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multicenter, open-label study aimed to determine the safety and functional outcome of a high-addition segmented refractive bifocal intraocular lens (IOL) in late inactive age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Twenty eyes of 20 patients were enrolled and followed until 12 months after the intervention. Patients underwent cataract surgery with implantation of a LS-313 MF80 segmented refractive bifocal intraocular lens with a near addition of +8.0 D (Teleon Surgical Vertriebs GmbH, Berlin, Germany). The main outcome measures were distance corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) and safety as determined by intra- and post-operative complications. Secondary outcomes included distance corrected visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), the need for magnification to read newspaper, preferred reading distance, speed and performance (logRAD), as well as patient satisfaction. Mean DCNVA improved from 0.95 (±0.19) to 0.74 (±0.35) logMAR, until 6 months after surgery, P<0.05. CDVA improved from 0.70 (±0.23) to 0.59 (±0.30) logMAR, UDVA from 0.94 (±0.25) to 0.69 (±0.34) logMAR, UNVA from 1.08 (±0.19) to 0.87 (±0.43) logMAR. The mean need for magnification decreased from 2.9- to 2.3-fold, preferred reading distance from 23 to 20 cm. No intraoperative complications occurred during any of the surgeries. One patient lost > 2 lines of CDVA between 6 and 12 months, in another case, the study IOL was exchanged for a monofocal one due to dysphotopsia and decreased CDVA. Implantation of a segmented refractive bifocal IOL with +8.0 D addition improves near and distance vision in patients with late AMD and has a satisfactory safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and dementia was reported in previous studies; however, the evidence is inconsistent.Objective: In the present study, the association between H. pylori infection and brain cortical thickness as a biomarker of neurodegeneration was investigated.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 822 men who underwent a medical health check-up, including an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging, was performed. H. pylori infection status was assessed based on histology. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and brain cortical thickness.Results: Men with H. pylori infection exhibited overall brain cortical thinning (p = 0.022), especially in the parietal (p = 0.008) and occipital lobes (p = 0.050) compared with non-infected men after adjusting for age, educational level, alcohol intake, smoking status, and intracranial volume. 3-dimentional topographical analysis showed that H. pylori infected men had cortical thinning in the bilateral lateral temporal, lateral frontal, and right occipital areas compared with non-infected men with the same adjustments (false discovery rate corrected, Q < 0.050). The association remained significant after further adjusting for inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein) and metabolic factors (obesity, dyslipidemia, fasting glucose, and blood pressure).Conclusion: Our results indicate H. pylori infection is associated with neurodegenerative changes in cognitive normal men. H. pylori infection may play a pathophysiologic role in the neurodegeneration and further studies are needed to validate this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recent innovations in mobile technology for the measurement of vision present a valuable opportunity to measure visual function in non-clinical settings, such as in the home and in field-based surveys. This study evaluated agreement between a tablet-based measurement of distance and near acuity and contrast sensitivity as compared to gold-standard clinical tests. Methods: Participants aged ≥55 years recruited from a tertiary eye clinic underwent testing with three tablet-based and corresponding gold-standard clinical measures (ETDRS distance acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, and MNRead near acuity). Correlation and agreement between tablet-based and clinical tests were assessed. Results: A total of 82 participants with a mean age of 69.1 (SD = 7.6) years, and majority female (67.1%) and white (64.6%), were enrolled in this study. The mean (SD) difference between the tests (gold-standard – tablet) was −0.04 (0.08) logMAR for distance acuity, −0.11 (0.13) log units for contrast sensitivity, and −0.09 (0.12) logMAR for near acuity. 95% limits of agreement for distance acuity (-0.21, 0.12 logMAR), near acuity (-0.34, 0.14 logMAR), and contrast sensitivity (-0.36, 0.14 logCS) were also determined. The correlation between tablet-based and gold-standard tests was strongest for distance acuity (r = 0.78), followed by contrast sensitivity (r = 0.75), and near acuity (r = 0.67). The agreement between the standard and tablet-based methods did not appear to be dependent on the level of vision. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the agreement of tablet-based and gold-standard tests of visual function in older adults. These findings have important implications for future population vision health surveillance and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We examined the associations between dual impairments in visual and hearing acuity and aging-related cognitive decline. Methods This was a longitudinal study of adults who had visual and hearing acuity and cognitive function assessed in 1992–1996 and were followed for up to 24 years (mean = 7.3 years), with up to five additional cognitive assessments. Visual impairment was defined as vision worse than 20/40, hearing impairment as pure-tone average thresholds >25 dB. Associations were tested using linear mixed-effects regressions. Results Of 1,383 participants, 293 had visual impairment, 990 had a hearing impairment and 251 had both deficits. In fully adjusted models, low visual acuity was associated with poorer Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; β = −0.29) and Trail-Making Test Part B (Trails B; β = 13.22) performance, and with faster declines in MMSE (β = −0.12) and Trails B (β = 1.84). The combination of low visual and low hearing acuity was associated with poorer MMSE (β = −0.44) and Trails B (β = 11.20) scores, and with faster declines in MMSE (β = −0.19), Trails B (β = 3.50), and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT; β = −0.14) performance. Associations were similar in men and women. Conclusion Impairments in both vision and hearing are associated with a more rapid decline in cognitive function with aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The relationship between self-reported visual disability and cognitive impairment in older individuals is unclear. Objective To determine the relationship of vision-specific functioning (VSF), vision-specific mobility (VSM) and visual acuity (VA) with clinically assessed cognitive impairment in the Epidemiology of Dementia in Singapore study. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Population-based. Subjects Eight hundred and seventy-four adults aged ≥60 years at higher risk of possible cognitive impairment by the Abbreviated Mental Test and progressive forgetfulness question. Methods VSF and VSM were measured using Rasch-transformed continuous scores of two Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire domains. Cognitive impairment was objectively determined using detailed neuropsychological testing and defined as no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment-no dementia (CIND), moderate CIND only and moderate CIND or dementia. Associations were assessed using multinomial logistic regression models. Results Of the 874 participants (49.0% males, mean age (SD) 65.5 (7.0) years), 277, 281 and 316 had NCI, mild CIND and moderate CIND or dementia, respectively. Compared to NCI, the odds of moderate CIND, and moderate CIND or dementia increased for every SD worsening in VSF (OR: 1.44, 95% CI 1.14–1.82, and OR: 1.52, 95%CI 1.19–1.94, respectively) and VSM (OR: 1.42, 95%CI 1.11–1.81, and OR: 1.50, 95%CI 1.15–1.95). Similarly, the odds of mild CIND (OR: 1.62, 95%CI 1.19–2.22), moderate CIND (OR: 1.93, 95%CI 1.45–2.58), and moderate CIND or dementia (OR: 2.25, 95%CI 1.62–3.11) increased significantly with every SD worsening of VA. Conclusions Our results emphasise the importance of interventions to prevent vision loss and improve quality of life to reduce likelihood of age-related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing and vision impairments are risk factors for cognitive decline; less is known about dual sensory impairment. This study quantifies the association between dual sensory impairment and 8-year change in memory among older adults., Methods: Data (N = 5552) were from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Memory (immediate/delayed word recall, subjective memory) was measured annually (2011 to 2019). Hearing and vision impairments were measured by self-report. Association between dual sensory impairment and 8-year change in memory was assessed using multivariate linear mixed effect models and generalized logistic mixed models., Results: Rate of memory decline was most accelerated among participants with dual sensory impairment. For example, 8-year decline in delayed word recall was -1.03 (95% confidene interval: -1.29, -0.77) for dual sensory impairment versus -0.79 (-0.92, -0.67) for single and -0.56 (-0.63, -0.48) for no impairment., Conclusion: Older adults with dual sensory impairment may be at particularly higher risk for cognitive decline., (© 2022 the Alzheimer's Association.)

Purpose of the review: Idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (IPUD) is an ulcer with no identifiable etiology. The major causes of peptic ulceration are Helicobacter pylori infection and ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Is this a truly idiopathic disease or simply a misdiagnosis? Recent findings: The diagnosis of H. pylori infection can be missed if patients are taking antibiotics or proton pump inhibitors or when gastrointestinal bleeding occurs. A history of NSAID ingestion is often also overlooked. The proportion of IPUDs has increased over time. IPUDs occur more commonly in older patients and those with comorbidities. They run a more aggressive course, often presenting with bleeding and other ulcer complications and are more difficult to manage. Summary: IPUD is a distinct albeit a small group of ulcers. The diagnosis is made after careful exclusion of H. pylori infection, NSAID ingestion, and other obscure causes of peptic ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although declines in cognitive capacity are assumed to be a characteristic of aging, increasing evidence shows that it is age‐related disease, rather than age itself, that causes cognitive impairment. Even so, older age is a primary risk factor for cognitive decline, and with individuals living longer as a result of medical advances, cognitive impairment and dementia are increasing in prevalence. On March 26 to 27, 2018, the American Geriatrics Society convened a conference in Bethesda, MD, to explore cognitive impairment across the subspecialties. Bringing together representatives from several subspecialties, this was the third of three conferences, supported by a U13 grant from the National Institute on Aging, to aid recipients of Grants for Early Medical/Surgical Specialists' Transition to Aging Research (GEMSSTAR) in integrating geriatrics into their subspecialties. Scientific sessions focused on the impact of cognitive impairment, sensory contributors, comorbidities, links between delirium and dementia, and issues of informed consent in cognitively impaired populations. Discussions highlighted the complexity not only of cognitive health itself, but also of the bidirectional relationship between cognitive health and the health of other organ systems. Thus, conference participants noted the importance of multidisciplinary team science in future aging research. This article summarizes the full conference report, "The Impact of Cognitive Impairment Across Specialties," and notes areas where GEMSSTAR scholars can contribute to progress as they embark on their careers in aging research. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2011–2017, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An association between visual impairment and cognitive outcomes has been documented, but there is limited research examining this relationship using multiple measures of vision.Methods: Participants included non-demented individuals in Year 3 of the Visual impairment was assessed using visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereo acuity. Cognitive function was defined using the digit symbol test and the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS). Incident cognitive impairment was defined as a 3MS score <80 or a decline >5 points following Year 3. Linear mixed effects models examined longitudinal associations adjusting for year, age, sex, race, education, smoking, depression, diabetes, study site, as well as interaction terms between the vision parameters and years in study, between baseline age and years in study, and quadratic terms of baseline age and years in study. Discrete Cox regression models examined the risk of incident cognitive impairment.Results: Analyses included 2,444 participants (mean age = 74). Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereo acuity impairments were not associated with statistically significant changes in annual digit symbol test scores over 7 years of follow-up, as compared to those without these impairments. However, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereo acuity impairments were associated with greater declines in annual 3MS scores over 9 years. Participants with impaired visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereo acuity had a greater risk of incident cognitive impairment.Conclusions: Our results suggest that visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereo acuity impairments may be risk factors for cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the longitudinal relationships between vision loss and the risk of dementia in the first 2 years, from 2 to 4 years and beyond 4 years after inclusion and to determine the roles of depressive symptomatology and engagement in cognitively stimulating activities in these associations. This study is based on the Three-City (3C) study, a population-based cohort of 7736 initially dementia-free participants aged 65 years and over with 12 years of follow-up. Near visual impairment (VI) was measured and distance visual function (VF) loss was self-reported. Dementia was diagnosed and screened over the 12-year period. At baseline, 8.7% had mild near VI, 4.2% had moderate to severe near VI, and 5.3% had distance VF loss. Among the 882 dementia cases diagnosed over the 12-year follow-up period, 140 cases occurred in the first 2 years, 149 from 2 to 4 years and 593 beyond 4 years after inclusion. In Cox multivariate analysis, moderate to severe near VI was associated with an increased risk of dementia in the first 2 years (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3) and from 2 to 4 years (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.1) but the association was not significant beyond 4 years after inclusion even if pointing in similar direction (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.95-1.9). Mild near VI was associated with an increased risk of dementia only in the first 2 years (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.5). Moreover, self-reported distance VF loss was associated with an increased risk beyond 4 years after inclusion (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0) but the association was no longer significant after taking into account baseline cognitive performances. Further adjustment for engagement in cognitively stimulating activities only slightly decreased these associations. However, there was an interaction between vision loss and depressive symptomatology, with vision loss associated with dementia only among participants with depressive symptomatology. These results suggest that poor vision, in particular near vision loss, may represent an indicator of dementia risk at short and middle-term, mostly in depressed elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether vision impairment is independently associated cross‐sectionally and longitudinally with dementia. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants: Individuals aged 50 and older Measurements: Cross‐sectional association between self‐rated vision (poor or blind, moderate, normal) and dementia was analyzed, adjusting for potential confounders (sex, wealth, education, cardiovascular risk factors) using multivariable logistic regression. We also modelled the adjusted longitudinal association between vision impairment and dementia over an average of 11 years of follow‐up using Cox proportional hazards regression for individuals aged 50 to 69 and those aged 70 and older. Results: After adjustment for confounders, participants who rated their vision as moderate were 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.4–3.1) times as likely as those with normal vision to have dementia, and those who rated their vision as poor were 4.0 (95% CI=2.6–6.1) times as likely. Longitudinally, individuals aged 50 to 69 who rated their vision as moderate (1.8, 95% CI=1.0–3.0) or poor (3.6, 95% CI=1.1–11.8) were at greater risk of developing dementia than those who rated their vision as normal. There was no significant difference in risk in those aged 70 and older. Conclusion: Our study confirms and extends findings from other countries, demonstrating cross‐sectional associations between moderate and poor self‐rated vision and dementia in England in all participants aged 50 and older and longitudinally over an 11‐year period in those aged 50 to 69. These results help establish vision loss as a risk factor for dementia, although it is unclear why. Research is needed to determine whether screening and treatment for vision loss may slow cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the gender-specific associations between perceived vision impairment and symptoms of depression. Methods: We used the data from the 2012 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging database of 7448 individuals aged 45 years and older. Questionnaires assessing depression symptoms and perceived visual impairment at near, distance, and in general were administered. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate if visual impairment could lead to depression, adjusting for the potential confounders of age, socioeconomic status (household income, education level, marital status, and employment status), and health behaviors (alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity level) after gender stratification. Results: Perceived general and near vision impairment were significantly associated with symptoms of depression in males (odds ratio [OR] = 2.78 and 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.91-4.04 and 1.78-3.63). Perceived general and distance vision impairment were significantly associated with symptoms of depression in females (OR = 2.16 and 2.08; 95% CI, 1.67-2.79 and 1.61-2.69). General sight with near vision impairment in males and general sight with distance vision impairment in females could be stronger predictors of depression than other vision impairment combinations (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.6461; p = 0.0425 in males; AUROC, 0.6270; p = 0.0318 in females). Conclusion Gender differences were found in the characteristics of visual impairment on symptoms of depression. Ophthalmologists should be aware that near vision impairment in males and distance vision impairment in females have an adjunctive effect that might contribute to symptoms of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: As the risk of visual impairment increases with age, so does the risk of developing cognitive impairment. Detection of cognitive deficits in people with visual impairments is a challenge and it remains unclear to what extent cognitive issues impact daily habits and the rehabilitation process. The present study aimed to (1) verify the consistency between the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (“Blind” versions) and the therapist's observations of elderly individuals in low-vision rehabilitation (LVR), and (2) document how cognitive difficulties may influence LVR and the satisfactory carrying-out of life habits.Methods: Six elderly individuals who received LVR completed the MMSE and MoCA (“Blind” versions) and Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H). The therapist rated the achievement of rehabilitation objectives, clients' cognitive functioning and its impact on the rehabilitation process.Results: All participants obtained scores within the normative score range for both tests except for one participant on the MoCA. The therapist perceived that four out of six participants had cognitive difficulties significant enough to hinder the rehabilitation process and these persons required more adaptations to therapy. All participants were satisfied with their life habits despite remaining functional limitations and the need for assistance.Conclusions: In this sample, standardized cognitive tests had limited utility to predict the complexity of LVR. Even if present, cognitive difficulties do not preclude rehabilitation for even severe visual impairment in elderly persons and does not imply significantly longer or more intense rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rationale/Objective: To develop a screening and referral algorithm tool to help identify which older institutionalized individuals with dementia need an eye examination. Methods: The visual acuity (VA) screening test was developed on an iPad retina display. Three optotypes were used (letters, numbers, and tumbling E’s) to determine whether one works best with dementia. The screening VA results and algorithm decision were validated against those obtained by an optometrist performing a complete eye examination. Results: Of the 150 participants, 14.7% did not respond to any optotype, while 85.3% responded to letters, 84.0% to numbers, and 66.0% to tumbling E’s. The VA achieved was superior for letters. The concordance for the screening versus eye examination was >80% for VA and 90% for the algorithm. Conclusion: The results indicate that the tool was successful at identifying older individuals with dementia needing an eye examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine how visual impairment affects physical and cognitive function in old age. Design A longitudinal population-based prospective cohort study. Setting General practitioner offices at six study centers in Germany. They were observed every 1.5 years over four waves. Participants Individuals aged 77-101 at follow-up Wave 2 (N = 2,394). Measurements Physical and cognitive function were assessed using an adapted scale that had been previously developed, and visual impairment was rated on a Likert scale (none, mild, severe or profound). Results Adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidity, linear fixed-effects regression showed that the onset of severe visual impairment was associated with a decline in physical function score in the total sample ( β = −0.15, P = .01) and in women ( β = −.15, P = .03). Moreover, the onset of severe visual impairment was associated with decline in cognitive function score in the total sample ( β = −0.38, P < .001) and in women ( β = −0.38, P < .001) and men ( β = −0.37, P = .001). Conclusion Visual impairment affects physical and cognitive function in old age. Interventional strategies to postpone visual impairment may contribute to maintaining physical and cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessments of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates typically rely on self-reported screening data, which are often incongruent with medical records. We used multilevel models to examine health-related, socio-demographic and psychological predictors of incongruent self-reports for CRC screening among Medicare-insured African Americans (N = 3,740). Results indicated that living alone decreased, and income increased, the odds of congruently self-reporting endoscopic CRC screening. Being male and having greater number of comorbidities decreased, and having less than a high school education increased, the odds of congruently self-reported fecal occult blood tests. Living alone, age and income had the most robust effects across classifications into one of four mutually exclusive categories defined by screening status (screened/unscreened) and congruence of self-reports. The results underscore the clinical importance of gathering socio-demographic data via patient interviews, and the relevance of these data for judging the veracity of self-reported CRC screenings behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: To better understand the role of sensory loss as a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline, this study examined cognitive decline in relation to single modality hearing or vision loss and dual sensory loss., Design: Longitudinal secondary data analysis., Setting: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and its supplement: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS)., Participants: Individuals aged 73 and older (N = 295)., Measurements: Hearing loss was defined by an inability to hear sounds of 25 dB at frequencies between 0.5 and 4.0 kHz in either ear. Vision loss was defined as having corrected binocular vision worse than 20/40. Dual sensory loss was defined as having both hearing and vision loss. We used one time point of hearing and vision data objectively measured in ADAMS Wave C (June 2006-May 2008) and five waves of cognitive function data measured by the HRS version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status in HRS (2006-2014). Multilevel mixed models were used., Results: Among the participants, 271 completed a hearing assessment and 120 had hearing loss; 292 completed a vision assessment and 115 had vision loss; 52 had dual sensory loss. Older adults with hearing loss had a significantly faster rate of cognitive decline as they aged compared to those with normal hearing (β = -0.16, P < .05). No significant association was found between vision loss and the rate of cognitive decline (β = -0.06, P = .41). Older adults who had dual sensory loss likewise had a significantly faster rate of cognitive decline as they age (β = -0.23, P < .05) compared to those with no sensory loss., Conclusion: Older adults with hearing loss and dual sensory loss have faster rates of cognitive decline than those with normal sensory function., (© 2021 The American Geriatrics Society.)

Purpose The prevalence of dementia and ocular pathology increases with age and many older individuals affected by such diseases are being institutionalised. The objectives of this systematic review are to describe the level of eye care services being offered to older institutionalised individuals, present the prevalence of visual impairment in those with dementia, and describe the interventions offered to visually impaired residents with dementia. Methods A literature review was performed in four relevant databases, limited to peer-reviewed journals published in English and French, between the years 1984 and 2014. The review targeted individuals 65 years of age or older, residing in long-term care facilities/nursing homes and affected by dementia. Only relevant articles addressing at least one of the three objectives were retained for this review. Results The literature search identified 440 abstracts that were all read by each of the authors. After consensus, 92 articles were identified as potentially relevant and read. In the end, 28 were found to address at least one of the three objectives and were kept for the review. The results indicated that eye care services for older institutionalised individuals are sub-optimal, that the prevalence of visual impairment remains high in that population, and that interventions such as optimising the ocular refraction, performing cataract surgery, providing low vision rehabilitation and adapting the environment can be beneficial to residents. Conclusions This systematic review demonstrated the benefits of providing regular eye care to long-term care facility/nursing home residents, including those at all levels of dementia. Additionally, it documented the benefits of various treatment modalities such as cataract surgery, staff training, environmental adaptations and visual rehabilitation for improving several aspects of the residents' quality of life. This review, however, has highlighted the fact that additional studies are required to strengthen the findings reported so far, and importantly, to evaluate the various treatment modalities described herein for residents in the most advanced stages of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The findings from prospective studies on visual impairment (VI) and the risk of mortality are not consistent. Objective A meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to quantitatively summarise the evidence about the association between VI and the risk of mortality. Methods Pertinent studies were identified by a search of PubMed, Web of Science and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases up to December 2015. The random-effect model was used to combine study-specific relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was estimated by Egger's test and the funnel plot. Dose-response relationship was assessed by restricted cubic spline functions. Results This meta-analysis contained 29 prospective studies including 269 839 participants and 67 061 deaths. Compared to the no VI, the highest VI level was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (RR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.46). The association remained significant in participants older than 65 years (RR: 1.28, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.39), and a significant association was also observed in men (RR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.54) and women (RR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.70), respectively. For dose-response analysis, a linear relation was found between visual acuity (VA) and the risk of mortality. For every 0.1 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) increment, the risk of mortality increased by 4% (RR: 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06). Conclusions VI was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of visual impairment (VI) and hearing loss (HL) with may be a marker for subsequent cognitive decline over time in older people. A prospective, longitudinal population-based study of the 3654 participants of the Blue Mountains Eye Study were assessed for the associations between VI and HL and a decline in mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores over a duration of 10 years from the 5-year (baseline of this report) to the 15-year follow-up visits. MMSE was assessed at the 5-, 10- and 15-year follow-up visits. A decline ≥3 scores from 5-year to 10- or 15-year visits indicated possible cognitive decline. VI was defined as best-corrected visual acuity <6/12 in the worse-eye, HL was defined as pure-tone average >40 decibels in the worse-ear and dual sensory impairment (DSI) was defined by the co-presence of VI and HL, detected at 5-year follow-up (baseline of this report). Participants with no VI and HL over the same 5- or 10-year corresponding period were controls. Associations of VI, HL and DSI with possible cognitive decline were assessed using logistic regression models adjusting for age and sex after excluding subjects with a stroke history. The presence of VI, HL or DSI was not associated with possible cognitive decline over 5 years (odds ratio (OR) 0.84, 95% confidence-intervals (CI) 0.40–1.79, OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.61–1.70 and 1.41, 95% CI 0.54–3.72, respectively) or 10 years (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52–2.30, OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.65–1.82 and 1.15, 95% CI 0.28–4.73, respectively). There were no changes to these findings after adjustment for other potential confounders. Age was significantly associated with possible cognitive decline (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10 for both periods). Neither visual impairment, hearing loss nor dual sensory impairment was independently associated with subsequent decline in cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]