Bosmans Joyce, Jorissen Cathérine, Cras Patrick, Van Ombergen Angelique, Engelborghs Sebastiaan, Gilles Annick, Princen Eline, Moyaert Julie, Mertens Griet, Van Rompaey Vincent
Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wilrijk, Belgium
Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wilrijk, Belgium.
BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 17;10(9):e039601. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039601.
Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting a growing number of the ageing population. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Previous research investigated the link between hearing loss and cognition, and the effect of vestibular dysfunction on cognition. Hearing loss and, to a lesser extent, vestibular decline both result in a decreasing cognitive function. However, their interaction should not be underestimated. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of hearing loss, vestibular decline and their interaction on cognition in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to AD (ADD).
We designed a prospective longitudinal study to assess the effect of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognition. A total of 100 cognitively impaired elderly (between 55 and 84 years of age), consisting of 60 patients with MCI due to AD and 40 patients with ADD will be included. The control group will consist of individuals with preserved cognition group-matched based on age, hearing level and vestibular function. A comprehensive assessment is performed at baseline, 12-month and 24-month follow-ups. The primary outcome measure is the change in the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status adjusted for Hearing-impaired individuals total score, a cognitive test battery assessing different cognitive domains. Secondary outcome measures include additional neuropsychological assessments, cortical auditory-evoked potentials, and evaluation of general and disease-specific health-related quality of life. Variables include cognitive, audiological and vestibular evaluation. Variance analyses will assess the effect of hearing loss and vestibular decline on cognition. More precisely, the link between hearing loss and non-spatial cognitive functioning, the effect of vestibular decline on spatial cognition and the impact of both factors on the rate of conversion from MCI due to AD to ADD will be investigated.
The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee of the Antwerp University Hospital on 4 February 2019 with protocol number B300201938949. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04385225).
痴呆症是一种普遍存在的疾病，影响着越来越多的老年人群体。阿尔茨海默病（AD）是痴呆症最常见的病因。以往的研究调查了听力损失与认知之间的联系，以及前庭功能障碍对认知的影响。听力损失以及程度较轻的前庭功能衰退均会导致认知功能下降。然而，它们之间的相互作用不应被低估。本研究的目的是评估听力损失、前庭功能衰退及其相互作用对患有轻度认知障碍（MCI）和AD所致痴呆症（ADD）患者认知的影响。
我们设计了一项前瞻性纵向研究，以评估听力损失和前庭功能衰退对认知的影响。将纳入总共100名认知受损的老年人（年龄在55至84岁之间），其中包括60名AD所致MCI患者和40名ADD患者。对照组将由认知功能正常的个体组成，这些个体在年龄、听力水平和前庭功能方面与研究组相匹配。在基线、12个月和24个月随访时进行全面评估。主要结局指标是针对听力受损个体调整后的神经心理状态评估可重复性成套测验总分的变化，这是一个评估不同认知领域的认知测试组合。次要结局指标包括额外的神经心理评估、皮质听觉诱发电位，以及对一般和特定疾病的健康相关生活质量的评估。变量包括认知、听力学和前庭评估。方差分析将评估听力损失和前庭功能衰退对认知的影响。更确切地说，将研究听力损失与非空间认知功能之间的联系、前庭功能衰退对空间认知的影响，以及这两个因素对AD所致MCI向ADD转化率的影响。
该研究方案于2019年2月4日获得安特卫普大学医院伦理委员会批准，方案编号为B300201938949。研究结果将通过同行评审出版物和会议报告进行传播。
ClinicalTrials.gov注册库（NCT04385225）。
