scholarly journals Associations of Hearing Sensitivity, Higher-Order Auditory Processing, and Cognition Over Time in Middle-Aged Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natascha Merten ◽  
Mary E Fischer ◽  
Ted S Tweed ◽  
Monique M B Breteler ◽  
Karen J Cruickshanks

Abstract Background Age-related hearing loss (impairment in hearing sensitivity and/or higher-order auditory processing) and cognitive decline are common co-occurring impairments in elderly adults. Their relation in the process of aging remains insufficiently understood. We aim to assess the temporal relations of decline in hearing sensitivity, higher-order auditory processing, and cognition in middle-aged adults. Methods This study included 1,274 Beaver Dam Offspring Study participants who participated in three examinations (baseline, 5-year, and 10-year follow-up). We assessed hearing sensitivity through pure-tone audiometry (PTA, averaged thresholds of 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz of the better ear), higher-order auditory processing as word recognition in competing message (WRCM) using the Northwestern University 6 word list in the better ear, and cognition through trail-making test performance (TMT). Linear mixed-effects models and linear regression models were used to determine associations over time and to what extent these measures influence each other over time. Results The longitudinal decline between all functions was associated with the strongest relationships between PTA and WRCM. The effect of baseline PTA on WRCM 10 years later (standardized ß = –.30) was almost twice as big as the effect of baseline WRCM on PTA 10 years later (standardized ß = –.18). The effect of baseline WRCM on TMT 10 years later and vice versa were small (standardized ß = –.05). No directional relationship between PTA and TMT was identified (standardized ß ≤ .02). Conclusions While hearing sensitivity might affect higher-order auditory processing, associations between hearing and cognition appear bidirectional and weak in midlife. We need to be cautious before inferring causal effects of hearing on cognition.

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 905-905
Author(s):  
A Mustafa ◽  
I Beltran-Najera ◽  
P Gilbert ◽  
L Graves ◽  
H Holden ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine age-¬related differences in performance on a new test assessing memory for “who, when, and where” and associations among these elements. The test was designed to assess aspects of episodic memory by simulating an everyday experience of meeting a series of different people in different places across time. Method Healthy young (ages 18¬-25), middle-aged (ages 40-55), and older adults (ages 60+) were asked to remember a sequence of pictures of different faces paired with different places. After viewing the sequence, the participants were asked to pair each face with the correct place and put the face-place pairs in the correct sequence. Participants also completed a battery of standardized neuropsychological tests. Results Young adults remembered significantly more face-place pairs in the correct sequence than middle-aged (p < .05) and older adults (p < .05). There were no significant differences between middle-aged and older adults in the number of face-place pairs in correct sequence. Furthermore, young adults remembered significantly more face-place pairs irrespective of sequence than older adults (p < .05). There were no significant differences between young and middle-aged adults or between middle-aged and older adults in the number of correct face-place pairs irrespective of sequence. Conclusions Using a new test that incorporates aspects of episodic memory, we found evidence for age-related differences in test performance beginning in middle age. We found that performance on the test correlated with performance on standardized measures of verbal memory and executive functioning but not visual confrontation naming.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 324-334
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Weihing ◽  
Frank Musiek

Background: Auditory-evoked potentials (EPs) provide a more objective assessment of central auditory nervous system (CANS) dysfunction when compared to behavioral measures because they do not require a behavioral response (Anderson and Kraus, 2010). In this regard, the middle latency response (MLR) has been considered an important component of CANS assessment (Jerger et al, 1988); however, its large within-group variability limits its usefulness (Musiek et al, 1999). It has been argued that performing intratest calculations on the MLR (e.g., difference in EP amplitude when stimulating the left ear versus the right ear) can reduce the within-group variability of the MLR and enhance its clinical usefulness (Musiek et al, 1999; Weihing et al, 2012). To date, it has not been investigated how well these MLR intratest measures reduce within-group variability in adults of various ages, nor has it been shown that these intratest measures are sensitive to aging-related changes in the CANS. Purpose: The two primary goals of the present study were (1) to determine if calculating an intratest MLR measure, the difference in MLR Na-Pa peak-to-peak amplitude on left versus right ear stimulation (i.e., “ear effects”), will reduce within-group variability in adults of various ages; and (2) to determine if ear effect magnitude will change as a function of aging. Ear effects were measured in both quiet and in noise to determine if the addition of noise enhanced any age-related-effects. Research Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Study Sample: The researchers studied 30 adults ranging in age from 20–80 yr with hearing sensitivity of 25 dB HL or better at the octave frequencies from 500–2000 Hz, and no history of neurologic issues. Adults were assigned to one of three age groups based on their chronological age, which were young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Data Collection and Analysis: MLRs were acquired using a Nicolet Spirit 2000 during a single laboratory visit. To determine if within-group variability decreased significantly with ear effects, variability for absolute amplitude measures was compared to ear effect variability using the Pitman t-test. To examine potential effects of background noise and aging, data were analyzed using a mixed-factorial analysis of variance with the within-subjects factor “background noise” and the between-subjects factor “age group.” Results: Within-group variability was significantly reduced by calculating ear effects for the youngest group only. Additionally, the oldest adults in the present sample showed significantly larger ear effects than younger and middle-aged adults. This effect did not appear to be a result of differences in peripheral hearing sensitivity. Finally, introducing noise into the paradigm did not influence the observed effects. Conclusions: Ear effects become larger in older adults possibly as a result of age-related changes in the subcortical and/or cortical generators of the MLR. Failure of the ear effect calculation to reduce within-group variability in the middle-aged and older adults suggests that interaural asymmetries in MLR amplitude become more variable across participants who are older than 50 yr. Information obtained from this measure may benefit the development of treatment plans for older adults with hearing difficulties.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 950
Author(s):  
May A. Beydoun ◽  
Hind A. Beydoun ◽  
Peter H. MacIver ◽  
Sharmin Hossain ◽  
Jose A. Canas ◽  
...  

Elevated blood homocysteine (Hcy) among middle-aged adults can increase age-related disease risk, possibly through other biochemical and hematological markers. We selected markers for hyperhomocysteinemia among middle-aged adults, studied time-dependent Hcy-marker associations and computed highly predictive indices of hyperhomocysteinemia, with cross-sectional and longitudinal validations. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, phase 2, nmax = 4000), the NHANES 1999–2006 (nmax = 10,151) and pooled NHANES (cross-sectional validation). Longitudinal validation consisted of mixed-effects linear regression models (Hcy predicting markers’ annual rates of change), applied to the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS, n = 227–244 participants, k = 2.4 repeats/participant, Agebase: 30–65 years) data. Machine learning detected nine independent markers for Hcy > 14 µmol/L (NHANES III, phase 2): older age; lower folate and B-12 status; higher serum levels of creatinine, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, and cotinine; mean cell hemoglobin and red cell distribution widths (RDW); results replicated in the 1999–2006 NHANES [AUC = 0.60–0.80]. Indices combining binary markers increased elevated Hcy odds by 6.9–7.5-fold. In HANDLS, first-visit Hcy predicted annual increase in creatinine, RDW and alkaline phosphatase, with third-visit index (2013–2018) directly predicting Hcy (2004–2009). We provide evidence of the internal and external validity of indices composed of several biomarkers that are strongly associated with elevated Hcy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 988
Author(s):  
Nathaniel R. Johnson ◽  
Christopher J. Kotarsky ◽  
Kyle J. Hackney ◽  
Kara A. Trautman ◽  
Nathan D. Dicks ◽  
...  

Ultrasonography advantageously measures skeletal muscle size and quality, but some muscles may be too large to capture with standardized brightness mode (B-mode) imaging. Panoramic ultrasonography can capture more complete images and may more accurately measure muscle size. We investigated measurements made using panoramic compared to B-mode ultrasonography images of the rectus femoris with muscular performance. Concurrently, protein intake plays an important role in preventing sarcopenia; therefore, we also sought to investigate the association between animal-based protein intake (ABPI) and muscular performance. Ninety-one middle-aged adults were recruited. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness were obtained using B-mode and panoramic ultrasound and analyzed with Image J software. Muscular performance was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry, a 30-s chair test, and handgrip strength. Three-day food diaries estimated dietary intakes. Linear regression models determined relationships between measures from ultrasonography and muscular performance. Mixed linear models were used to evaluate the association between ABPI and muscular performance. Muscle CSA from panoramic ultrasonography and ABPI were positively associated with lower-body strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 42.622 ± 20.024, p = 0.005; ABPI, 65.874 ± 19.855, p = 0.001), lower-body endurance (β ± S.E.; CSA, 595 ± 200.221, p = 0.001; ABPI, 549.944 ± 232.478, p = 0.020), and handgrip strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 6.966 ± 3.328, p = 0.004; ABPI, 0.349 ± 0.171, p = 0.045). Panoramic ultrasound shows promise as a method for assessing sarcopenia. ABPI is related to better muscular performance.


Author(s):  
Л. Е. Голованова ◽  
Е. А. Огородникова ◽  
Н. С. Белокурова ◽  
Е. С. Лаптева ◽  
М. Ю. Бобошко

Целью исследования был сравнительный анализ жалоб и аудиологических показателей у пациентов сурдологического центра в зависимости от возраста. Представлены результаты обследования 300 первичных пациентов (случайная выборка), обратившихся к сурдологу-оториноларингологу в течение 1 мес. В группу молодых пациентов (19-44 года) вошли 40 человек; в группу среднего возраста (45- 59 лет) - 62 человека; в группу пожилых (60-74 года) - 100 человек; в группу старческого возраста (75-90 лет) - 98 человек. Обследование включало сбор жалоб и анамнеза, ЛОР-осмотр, тональную пороговую аудиометрию, импедансометрию, речевую аудиометрию в наушниках для выявления признаков центральных слуховых расстройств или в свободном звуковом поле для оценки эффективности слухопротезирования. Установлено, что для ранней диагностики тугоухости и профилактики возрастных сенсорнокогнитивных дисфункций целесообразно использовать не только результаты тональной пороговой аудиометрии, но и данные речевой аудиометрии, а также анализ субъективных жалоб. Результаты работы свидетельствуют о необходимости организации скрининга состояния слуха в рамках диспансеризации населения старше 60 лет. The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of complaints and audiological findings in patients of the audiological center depending on their age. The results of the examination of 300 fi rstly consulted patients (random sample) are presented. The group of young patients (19-44 years) included 40 people; middle age (45-59 years) - 62 people; elderly (60-74 years) - 100 people; senile age (75-90 years) - 98 people. The survey included the collection of complaints and anamnesis, ENT checkup, pure tone audiometry, impedancemetry, speech audiometry in headphones to detect the signs of Central Auditory Processing Disorder or in the free sound field to assess the effectiveness of hearing aids. It was found that for early diagnosis of hearing loss and prevention of age-related sensory-cognitive dysfunction, it is advisable to use not only the results of pure tone audiometry, but also the data of speech audiometry, as well as the analysis of subjective complaints. The results of the work indicate the need for hearing screening in the population over 60 years old.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3061
Author(s):  
Marta Zampino ◽  
Majd AlGhatrif ◽  
Pei-Lun Kuo ◽  
Eleanor Marie Simonsick ◽  
Luigi Ferrucci

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) declines with aging and is related to changes in health status, but how specific health impairments impact basal metabolism over time has been largely unexplored. We analyzed the association of RMR with 15 common age-related chronic diseases for up to 13 years of follow-up in a population of 997 participants to the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. At each visit, participants underwent measurements of RMR by indirect calorimetry and body composition by DEXA. Linear regression models and linear mixed effect models were used to test cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of RMR and changes in disease status. Cancer and diabetes were associated with higher RMR at baseline. Independent of covariates, prevalent COPD and cancer, as well as incident diabetes, heart failure, and CKD were associated with a steeper decline in RMR over time. Chronic diseases seem to have a two-phase association with RMR. Initially, RMR may increase because of the high cost of resiliency homeostatic mechanisms. However, as the reserve capacity becomes exhausted, a catabolic cascade becomes unavoidable, resulting in loss of total and metabolically active mass and consequent RMR decline.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (4S_Part_17) ◽  
pp. e9-e9
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Carlsson ◽  
N. Maritza Dowling ◽  
Bruce P. Hermann ◽  
Carey E. Gleason ◽  
Sterling C. Johnson ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 3045-3058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Baudry ◽  
Johannes F. Kopp ◽  
Heiner Boeing ◽  
Anna P. Kipp ◽  
Tanja Schwerdtle ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose We aimed to evaluate age-dependent changes of six trace elements (TE) [manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iodine (I), and selenium (Se)] over a 20-year period. Methods TE concentrations were determined using repeated serum samples taken at baseline and after 20 years of follow-up from 219 healthy participants of the EPIC-Potsdam study, using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry. For each TE, absolute and relative differences were calculated between the two time points, as well as the proportion of individuals within normal reference ranges. Interdependence between age-related TE differences was investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). Relationships between selected factors (lifestyle, sociodemographic, anthropometric factors, and hypertension) and corresponding TE longitudinal variability were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results Median age of our study sample was 58.32 years (4.42) at baseline and 40% were females. Median Mn, Zn, Se concentrations and Se to Cu ratio significantly decreased during aging while median Fe, Cu, I concentrations and Cu to Zn ratio significantly increased. A substantial percentage of the participants, at both time points, had Zn concentrations below the reference range. The first PCA-extracted factor reflected the correlated decline in both Mn and Zn over time while the second factor reflected the observed (on average) increase in both Cu and I over time. Overall, none of the investigated factors were strong determinants of TE longitudinal variability, except possibly dietary supplement use, and alcohol use for Fe. Conclusions In conclusion, in this population-based study of healthy elderly, decrease in Mn, Zn, and Se concentrations and increase in Fe, Cu, and I concentrations were observed over 20 years of follow-up. Further research is required to investigate dietary determinants and markers of TE status as well as the relationships between TE profiles and the risk of age-related diseases.


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