Mental, cognitive, vision and hearing health problems in elderly people are amongst the top 10 public health challenges in Europe. They frequently occur co-concurrently and have an additive negative effect on quality of life and mental well-being.
To address this negative impact, and promote mental well-being, particularly from a gender and minority community perspective, SENSE-Cog's aim is to:
- (1) understand the inter-relationship of sensory impairments and cognitive and mental health functioning;
- (2) identify novel means of screening/detection for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes;
- (3) translate this knowledge into clinical applications for the mental well-being of EU citizens.
Methods: SENSE-Cog will use a ‘mixed methods’ approach with a trans-EU, UK-led, multidisciplinary collaboration of 7 EU countries with academics, SMEs, city government and ‘patient-public voice’ members. We will deliver linked Work Packages (WPs) reflecting 7 themes:
- (1) exploration: an epidemiological analysis of 5 large EU longitudinal databases to detect risk profiles for good and poor mental health outcomes;
- (2) assessment: the adaptation/validation of assessment tools for cognition and sensory impairment for vulnerable populations, including the development of a composite e-screen for sensory, cognitive and mental functioning;
- (3) intervention: a clinical trial of a newly developed ‘sensory support’ intervention;
- (4) participation: an EU ‘patient and public voice’ and innovative public engagement network to inform the WPs and communicate findings;
- (5) valuation: health economic and cost effectiveness analyses;
- (6) management, governance/ethics.
Impact: SENSE-Cog will promote earlier detection of sensory, cognitive and mental impairments to enable swift interventions, prevent deterioration and limit negative impacts.
