Ageing effects on the attentional capacities and working memory of people who are blind

Abstract

Purpose: Adaptation to blindness can lead to the enhancement of the attentional capacities and working memory in young people. However, although the effects of ageing on the cognition of sighted people and people with age-related visual impairments are well-documented, no study seems to have investigated the age-related changes of these cognitive processes in people who are blind. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of age on the attentional processes and working memory in blind people.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 43 blind participants and 42 sighted participants. The participants performed auditory computerized tests assessing selective, sustained and divided attention, attentional switching, and working memory.

Results: Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant visual status effect and age effect on most of the variables studied. No interaction was found between visual status and age effects.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the trajectories of cognitive age-related change are similar in blind people and in sighted people. This study has implications for rehabilitation, such as cognitive intervention.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Blind people show improved attentional capacities compared to sighted people, even in old blind people.

• Old blind people have lower performances than younger blind people in tests assessing selective, sustained and divided attention, and working memory.

• Cognitive approaches to rehabilitation may help people who are blind to deal with age-related cognitive decline and its effects on everyday functioning.

• A high level of cognitive stimulation, provided by a cognitive training or a developed social participation, might reduce the age-related effects in people who are blind.

Keywords:

• Blindness
• cognition
• neuropsychological assessment

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank all the volunteers and the Fédération des Aveugles et Handicapés Visuels de France, Association Valentin Haüy de Lyon, Association Valentin Haüy de Marseille, Association Valentin Haüy de Grenoble, and Point de Vue sur la Ville for their collaboration.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.