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Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2026

July 12-15, 2026 | London, United Kingdom, and Online

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Living With Cognitive And Dual Sensory Impairment In Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological (IPA) Study Of Older Women In India

Preview of Living With Cognitive And Dual Sensory Impairment In Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological (IPA) Study Of Older Women In India

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Keerthana Umapathy

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Keerthana Umapathy

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Title: Living with Cognitive and Dual Sensory Impairment in Later Life: An Interpretative Phenomenological (IPA) Study of Older Women in India

Authors: Keerthana Umapathy, Priya Treesa Thomas, Suvarna Alladi, Nathan Congdon, Lynne Lohfeld

01. Introduction

Older adults with concurrent cognitive impairment (CI) and dual sensory impairment (DSI) experience complex functional, psychological, and social challenges that impact independence and participation in daily living activities. While epidemiological studies have quantified their growing burden, little is known about older women’s lived experiences in LMICs. This study addresses this important evidence gap.

02. Epidemiological Context

•57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021, anticipated to reach 153 million by 2025.

•Globally, over 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss and 2.2 billion with vision impairment. prevalence rises sharply with age.

•Concurrent sensory impairment is associated with poorer cognition, functional decline, loneliness, and reduced quality of life.

03. Study Aim: To explore the lived experiences of older women living with concurrent cognitive impairment and dual sensory impairment in India using IPA.

04. Methodology

Study design: Interpretative Phenomenological Study

Analytic Approach: Idiographic, cross-case analysis

Data Collection: Unstructured, in-depth interviews (25-47 minutes)

Participants: Six community-dwelling women (aged 60 years or over) with CI and DSI from Rangaredyy district and Hyderabad, India

Language: Telugu/Hindi

Data Analysis: Reflexive IPA (Smith & Nizza, 2022)

05. Findings

•CI and DSI was experienced as cumulative physical, cognitive, and existential loss.

•Continually negotiated personhood within family relationships and gendered expectations.

•Structural barriers amplified vulnerability and access to care.

•Despite adversity, resilience preserved dignity, purpose, and everyday agency.

06. Discussion and Conclusion

Beyond describing the co-occurrence of cognitive and dual sensory impairment, this study highlights how older women interpreted, negotiated, and adapted to these intersecting conditions throughout everyday life. The findings reveal personhood as continually shaped through the interaction of bodily changes, family relationships, and wider structural contexts, offering a deeper understanding of healthy ageing from the perspective of older women in India.

07. Policy recommendations aligned with SDGs

⚬ Embed integrated sensory-cognitive screening within primary healthcare.

→ SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

⚬ Promote gender-responsive, person-centred care for older women.

→ SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

⚬ Strengthen rehabilitation, caregiver support, and social protection.

→ SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

⚬ Develop integrated, age-friendly health systems through multisectoral collaboration between health, social care, and community services.

→ SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

08. Acknowledgement

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, UK [Grant Number: 225573/Z/22/Z]. We thank the support of Queen’s University Belfast, NIMHANS, and LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad.

We sincerely thank all the women for generously sharing their experiences.

References:

1.Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet Standing Commission. Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572-628. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0.

2.GBD 2019 Dementia Forecasting Collaborators. Estimation of the global prevalence of dementia in 2019 and forecasted prevalence in 2050: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Public Health. 2022;7(2):e105-e125. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00249-8.

3.Harithasan D, Mukari SZ, Ishak WS, Shahar S, Yeong WL. The impact of sensory impairment on cognitive performance, quality of life, depression, and loneliness in older adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;35(4):358-364.

4.Smith JA, Nizza IE. Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In: Smith JA, editor. Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publications; 2022. p. 137-163.

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