SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Aging Neurosci.
Sec. Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
The validity of visual and hearing impairment in predicting dementia and cognitive impairment in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Jiangxi Mental Hospital & Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- 2Jiangxi Medical College, Shangrao, China
- 3Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- 4Nanchang University Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang, China
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Objective: The number of people with dementia and cognitive impairment is rising every year as the older population grows. The higher prevalence and mortality rates of dementia and cognitive impairment place an enormous burden on health care and economic systems worldwide. Studies have shown that older adults with sensory impairments are at a higher risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment than normal older adults. There is a lack of systematic reviews on the relationship between sensory impairment and dementia and cognitive impairment in older persons. This meta-analysis aimed to analyze the correlation of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory impairment with dementia and cognitive impairment, and to provide guidance for reducing the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment in older adults. Methods: Computerized searches were conducted using the CNKI, Wangfa, Vip, Sinomed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Supplementary searches were performed on 2 clinical trial registries. Results: Meta-analysis was performed by log-transforming the study-specific estimates. The heterogeneity of studies was characterized by Q-test and I2. The results of the studies indicated that dual sensory impairment was associated with dementia [OR 95% CI 1.66 (1.47, 1.86)], visual impairment was associated with dementia [OR 95% CI 1.60 (1.48, 1.74)], hearing impairment was associated with dementia [OR 95% CI 1.26 (1.22, 1.31)], dual sensory impairment was associated with cognitive impairment [OR 95% CI 2.08 (1.70, 2.54)], visual impairment was associated with cognitive impairment [OR 95% CI 1.84 (1.44, 2.36)], and hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment in old age [OR 95% CI 1.50 (1.36, 1.65)]. Conclusion: Sensory impairment is a predictor of dementia and cognitive impairment. Healthcare professionals should prioritize screening older adults with sensory impairments to reduce the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment.
Keywords: cognitive impairment, Dementia, dual sensory impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment
Received: 30 Jun 2025; Accepted: 05 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gan, Yuan, Hu, Xiong and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xiaoyun Xiong
Yonghui Zhang
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