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 27th year follow-up of the PAQUID cohort, visit where the question on subjective age was collected. Our sample included 75 participants older than 93 years, with a mean age of 96 years. 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 (p = 0.03) was associated with an older subjective age, whereas no significant associations were observed for disability (p = 0.42) and self-reported visual loss (p = 0.18). 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.