Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Journal

Journal of Aging and Health

DOI

10.1177/08982643241247583

PMID

38621720

PMCID

PMC11473705

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-1-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated whether self-reported vision and hearing were associated with cognitive function and loneliness among Mexican adults aged 50 and older.

Methods: Mexican Health and Aging Study data. Vision/hearing status was self-reported (excellent-very good, good, fair-poor). Cognition was measured using nine tasks. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Analyses controlled for demographic and health characteristics.

Results: Among 12,353 participants (mean age = 67, 58% female), poor vision, but not hearing, was associated with lower global cognition (β = -0.03, p < .05). Poor vision (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.30-1.91) and hearing (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.14-1.61) were associated with higher odds of being lonely after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, but not when adjusting for limitations in daily activities and depressive symptoms.

Discussion: Poor vision is a potentially modifiable risk factor for lower cognition and loneliness among Mexican adults. These associations are partly due to functional characteristics of older adults with poor vision.

Keywords

Humans, Female, Loneliness, Mexico, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Vision Disorders, Hearing Loss, Cognition, Aging, Aged, 80 and over, Risk Factors, Self Report

Published Open-Access

yes

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