Sensory Processing Abnormalities in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Mixed Methods Study

Elizabeth K. Rhodus; Elizabeth G. Hunter; Graham D. Rowles; Shoshana H. Bardach; Kelly Parsons; Justin Barber; Mary Ellen Thompson; Gregory A. Jicha

doi:10.1177/23337214211068290

Sensory Processing Abnormalities in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Mixed Methods Study

Elizabeth K. Rhodus, Elizabeth G. Hunter, Graham D. Rowles, Shoshana H. Bardach, Kelly Parsons, Justin Barber, Mary Ellen Thompson, Gregory A. Jicha

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia often leads to behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Sensory processing abnormalities may be associated with BPSD. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among sensory processing, behavior, and environmental features within the homes of people with MCI or dementia. This project used mixed methods to assess participants’ sensory processing, care partner perspectives on behaviors, and in situ observations of the home environment. Nine participants with cognitive impairment (MCI n = 8, early dementia = 1) and their care partners were included. Seven participants with cognitive impairment were reported to have abnormal sensory processing. Findings suggest that unique environmental adaptations, tailored to personal and sensory preferences for each participant, were associated with a decreased level of behavioral disruption during the observation periods. Implementing sensory-based approaches to maximize environment adaptation may be beneficial in reducing disruptive behaviors for adults with cognitive impairment.

Original language	English
Journal	Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214211068290
State	Published - Jan 5 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Funding for the longitudinal cohort is provided by NIH/NIA under Grant NIH/NIA P30 AG072946; and the first author is funded by the NIH under Grant NIH T32 AG057461: “Training in Translational Research in Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (TRIAD).”

Funders	Funder number
National Institute on Aging	NIH T32 AG057461, P30 AG072946
National Institute on Aging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geriatrics and Gerontology

Access to Document

10.1177/23337214211068290

Cite this

@article{81e75ffbaf7d49f9a556d52bf6b358f7,

title = "Sensory Processing Abnormalities in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Mixed Methods Study",

abstract = "Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia often leads to behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Sensory processing abnormalities may be associated with BPSD. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among sensory processing, behavior, and environmental features within the homes of people with MCI or dementia. This project used mixed methods to assess participants{\textquoteright} sensory processing, care partner perspectives on behaviors, and in situ observations of the home environment. Nine participants with cognitive impairment (MCI n = 8, early dementia = 1) and their care partners were included. Seven participants with cognitive impairment were reported to have abnormal sensory processing. Findings suggest that unique environmental adaptations, tailored to personal and sensory preferences for each participant, were associated with a decreased level of behavioral disruption during the observation periods. Implementing sensory-based approaches to maximize environment adaptation may be beneficial in reducing disruptive behaviors for adults with cognitive impairment.",

author = "Rhodus, {Elizabeth K.} and Hunter, {Elizabeth G.} and Rowles, {Graham D.} and Bardach, {Shoshana H.} and Kelly Parsons and Justin Barber and Thompson, {Mary Ellen} and Jicha, {Gregory A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022.",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1177/23337214211068290",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sensory Processing Abnormalities in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

T2 - A Mixed Methods Study

AU - Rhodus, Elizabeth K.

AU - Hunter, Elizabeth G.

AU - Rowles, Graham D.

AU - Bardach, Shoshana H.

AU - Parsons, Kelly

AU - Barber, Justin

AU - Thompson, Mary Ellen

AU - Jicha, Gregory A.

PY - 2022/1/5

Y1 - 2022/1/5

N2 - Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia often leads to behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Sensory processing abnormalities may be associated with BPSD. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among sensory processing, behavior, and environmental features within the homes of people with MCI or dementia. This project used mixed methods to assess participants’ sensory processing, care partner perspectives on behaviors, and in situ observations of the home environment. Nine participants with cognitive impairment (MCI n = 8, early dementia = 1) and their care partners were included. Seven participants with cognitive impairment were reported to have abnormal sensory processing. Findings suggest that unique environmental adaptations, tailored to personal and sensory preferences for each participant, were associated with a decreased level of behavioral disruption during the observation periods. Implementing sensory-based approaches to maximize environment adaptation may be beneficial in reducing disruptive behaviors for adults with cognitive impairment.

AB - Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia often leads to behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Sensory processing abnormalities may be associated with BPSD. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships among sensory processing, behavior, and environmental features within the homes of people with MCI or dementia. This project used mixed methods to assess participants’ sensory processing, care partner perspectives on behaviors, and in situ observations of the home environment. Nine participants with cognitive impairment (MCI n = 8, early dementia = 1) and their care partners were included. Seven participants with cognitive impairment were reported to have abnormal sensory processing. Findings suggest that unique environmental adaptations, tailored to personal and sensory preferences for each participant, were associated with a decreased level of behavioral disruption during the observation periods. Implementing sensory-based approaches to maximize environment adaptation may be beneficial in reducing disruptive behaviors for adults with cognitive impairment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122744969&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85122744969&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/23337214211068290

DO - 10.1177/23337214211068290

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85122744969

SN - 2333-7214

VL - 8

JO - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

JF - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

ER -

Sensory Processing Abnormalities in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this