Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Meher LadORCiD, Dr William Sedley, Professor Tim GriffithsORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2022. Sensory loss in olfaction, vision, and hearing is a risk factor for dementia, but the reasons for this are unclear. This review presents the neurobiological evidence linking each sensory modality to specific dementias and explores the potential mechanisms underlying this. Olfactory deficits can be linked to direct neuropathologic changes in the olfactory system due to Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, and may be a marker of disease severity. Visual deficits potentially increase dementia risk in a vulnerable individual by reducing resilience to dementia. Hearing deficits may indicate a susceptibility to Alzheimer disease through a variety of mechanisms. More generally, sensory impairment could be related to factors associated with resilience against dementia. Further research is needed to tease out the specific and synergistic effects of sensory impairment. Studying sensory loss in relation to neurodegenerative biomarkers is necessary to clarify the mechanisms involved. This could produce new monitoring and management strategies for people at risk of dementia.
Author(s): Lad M, Sedley W, Griffiths TD
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Neuroscientist
Year: 2024
Volume: 30
Issue: 2
Pages: 247-259
Print publication date: 01/04/2024
Online publication date: 28/09/2022
Acceptance date: 02/04/2018
ISSN (print): 1073-8584
ISSN (electronic): 1089-4098
Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584221126090
DOI: 10.1177/10738584221126090
PubMed id: 36169300
