Effect of Hearing Ability and Mild Behavioural Impairment on MoCA and Memory Index Scores

Abstract

BackgroundThe life-course model of modifiable risk factors for dementia now recognizes managing hearing loss and addressing social isolation.ObjectiveTo investigate the contribution and inter-relationship of hearing ability and behaviour change on cognitive ability.MethodsWe present the preliminary findings from a prospective longitudinal study of 35 non-demented participants ages 60–93, recruited from community rehabilitation and acute-care programs of Geriatric Medicine, who underwent baseline hearing, behavioural, and cognitive testing.ResultsAfter controlling for age and hearing impairment, the left ear Dichotic Digit Test (DDT) score accounted uniquely for 20% of the variance in MoCA Memory Index (p = .016 with β = .598). Mild Behavioural Impairment (MBI) was highly prevalent, with 80% of older adults reporting at least one MBI symptom. People with hearing impairment had greater global MBI burden than people with normal hearing, especially in the domains of apathy and impulse dyscontrol; however, greater severity of hearing impairment was not associated with a higher number of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS).ConclusionsLow left DDT contributed to lower memory index and greater MBI burden is associated with hearing impairment. Our findings demonstrate the value of early non-invasive hearing and behavioural assessments as part of dementia risk assessment in older adults.

Mild behavioral impairment is related to frailty in non-dementia older adults: a cross-sectional study

“…MBI has also been used in machine learning models to predict neurocognitive diagnostic category 40 months later [ 36 ]. These findings suggested that the early recognition of the NPS that constitute MBI may contribute to earlier detection of neurodegeneration, and may represent a clinical entity and premorbid treatment target to explore for intervention strategies to prevent or delay the onset of dementia [ 37 ]. The Mild behavioral impairment Checklist (MBI-C) is the validated brief screening instrument developed to capture MBI in accordance with the criteria [ 38 – 42 ].…”

Mild behavioral impairment is related to frailty in non-dementia older adults: a cross-sectional study

“…MBI has also been used in machine learning models to predict neurocognitive diagnostic category 40 months later (36). These ndings suggested that the early recognition of the NPS that constitute MBI may contribute to earlier detection of neurodegeneration, and may represent a clinical entity and premorbid treatment target to explore for intervention strategies to prevent or delay the onset of dementia (37). The Mild behavioral impairment Checklist (MBI-C) is the validated brief screening instrument developed to capture MBI in accordance with the criteria (38)(39)(40)(41)(42).…”

Neural Correlates of the Impulse Dyscontrol Domain of Mild Behavioral Impairment

“…Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) is a validated neurobehavioral syndrome that describes the later life emergence of persistent NPS as an atrisk state for incident cognitive decline and dementia (11). These NPS have been suggested to be an index manifestation of dementia for some (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). MBI captures preclinical and prodromal disease symptoms and is associated with known dementia biomarkers including amyloid- (21), tau (22,23), neuro lament light (24), brain atrophy (25,26), and AD risk genes (27,28).…”