Short-Term Longitudinal Study of Central Auditory Function in Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Central auditory processing · Dementia · Hearing Background/Aims: Central auditory function can be studied to monitor the progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Our aim was to address this issue in a prospective longitudinal setting. Methods: Tests of central hearing function were performed on 70 sub-jects with either Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment, and in controls with subjective memory complaints but normal cognition. The time span until follow-up was 1.5 years. Results: The dichotic digit free recall test showed a significant decline in the AD group compared with the controls (left ear). Conclusion: The short time span was long enough to disclose a central auditory processing decline in AD. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Base