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Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Published on: February 7, 2014
Does Sensory Function Decline Independently or Concomitantly with Age? Data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of
Shekhar K Gadkaree1, Daniel Q Sun1, Carol Li1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Journal of Aging Research
|October 25, 2016
Summary
Sensory functions like vision, hearing, and balance decline with age, but not always together. Multiple sensory impairments in older adults are linked to reduced physical performance.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Science
Background:
- Aging is associated with declines in sensory functions, including vision, hearing, proprioception, and vestibular function.
- It is unclear whether these sensory declines occur independently or in parallel within individuals as they age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent or parallel decline of multiple sensory systems with age.
- To examine the association between sensory impairments and physical performance in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).
- Sensory function assessed via vision, proprioception, vestibular, and hearing tests.
- Physical performance evaluated using the Health ABC physical performance battery.
Main Results:
- All four sensory systems (vision, proprioception, vestibular, hearing) showed age-related decline.
- No significant associations were found between sensory systems after adjusting for age.
- Dual or triple sensory impairment in individuals aged 70-79 was associated with poorer physical performance.
Conclusions:
- Distinct etiological mechanisms, beyond general aging, may contribute to the decline of individual sensory systems.
- Multiple sensory impairments significantly impact physical performance in middle-aged and older adults (70-79 years).
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