Developing a prediction model for dementia in the Canadian population: the role of hearing loss and sensory impairment

With the rising number of people affected by dementia each year and the lack of available treatment for its currently irreversible effects, there is an increasing need to establish population-level primary prevention and early detection strategies. Hearing loss has been found to be one of the largest modifiable factors contributing to dementia. Using CLSA data, we will evaluate the prevalence of hearing loss in people living with dementia in Canada and develop a multivariable prediction model for dementia, accounting for a range of risk factors (including hearing loss, comorbidities, genetic predisposition, level of physical activity, and environmental exposures). The capacity to predict the incidence of dementia in a given population will be helpful in shaping healthcare planning and policy development, as well as in developing personalized health interventions aimed to prevent dementia or detect it early in its onset.