Associations Between Self-Reported Visual and Hearing Functioning and Cognitive Function among Hispanics/Latino: Hispanic Community Health Study (HCHS/SOL)

To investigate the associations between self-reported visual functioning (VF) and hearing functioning (HF) with cognition in the Hispanic/Latino population. We utilized data from the Miami Ocular SOL ancillary study to Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) with 1,056 participants aged 45 and older. The outcomes were cognitive performances assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Word Fluency, Brief Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test-recall (B-SEVLT recall), words recalled over three trials, and the Six-Item Screener. Visual functioning was measured by National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) and hearing function was measured by Hearing Handicap Inventory Screening Questionnaire for Adults and Elderly (HHIA/E-S). Multiple regressions were performed for each cognitive outcome while controlling for covariates and complex sampling design. NEI-VFQ was associated with 3 of the 5 cognitive outcomes. A 4-point NEI-VFQ score difference was associated with 0.56-point difference in DSST (se=0.27, p<0.001), 0.17 in Word fluency (se=0.16, p<0.01), and 0.08 in B-SEVLT-recall (se=0.07, p<0.01). HHIA/E-S was not associated with any of the cognitive measures examined. These data suggest that impaired visual functioning is associated with worse cognition in the Hispanic/Latino population. Although previous work in this cohort indicated hearing loss assessed by pure tone audiometry was associated with worse cognition, we found self-perceived hearing function was not associated with cognition, suggesting the potential limitation of self-reported hearing function as a proxy for hearing loss in epidemiological research in Hispanic/Latino populations. Results also imply impaired visual functioning and hearing function may be linked to cognition differently in Hispanic population and more research is needed to better understand the underlying linking mechanisms. Visual and hearing impairment are common and treatable and represent important modifiable risk factors that can be treated to preserve cognitive function in Hispanics/Latinos.