A new study published in Innovation in Aging examines the prevalence and functional impact of visuospatial impairment among older adults. Ali Hamedani, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Epidemiology, is a co-author of the study.
Using data from 3,496 adults aged 65 and older from the Health and Retirement Study’s Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, the researchers found that 11.3% of participants had visuospatial impairment. Among participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and visuospatial impairment, more than half had no other affected cognitive domain.
The study also found that visuospatial impairment was associated with functional difficulties, including challenges with map use, navigation, and driving. The findings highlight visuospatial function as an important but potentially overlooked aspect of cognitive aging.