Subjective Age in the Oldest Old: What is the Association with Disability and Sensory Impairment?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Disability and sensory impairment are particularly pronounced among the oldest old population (80 years and older). Considering these specificities, we analyzed the association of such parameters with subjective age, a strong predictor of health-related outcomes. We assumed that greater disability and sensory impairment (hearing and visual) would be linked with an older subjective age.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Prospective population-based study.

STUDY SAMPLE

Data were gathered from the 27

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Disability was assessed with Activities of Daily Living and sensory impairments by asking participants if they have visual or hearing difficulties. A multiple linear regression model was performed with subjective age as the dependent variable. Independent variables were functional disability and visual and hearing impairments.

RESULTS

On average, the participants felt 12 years younger than their actual age. Multiple regression analyses controlled for age, gender, education, depression, and dementia indicated that self-reported hearing loss (

CONCLUSIONS

Hearing impairment, in contrast to visual impairment and disability, is associated with feeling older. These results are discussed in light of health consequences and age stigma carried by hearing impairment.

Informations de copyright

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Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.