Most older adults experience some degree of hearing loss, yet few recognize that it may increase their risk of cognitive decline. A recent study found that nearly one-third of dementia cases over an eight-year period might be linked to hearing loss measured with a hearing test.
Researchers monitored nearly 3,000 older adults, aged 66 to 90, for up to eight years. All participants had normal cognition at the beginning and underwent a hearing test and a self-assessment of their hearing. The researchers compared the number of new dementia cases over time with each participant’s hearing status at the start of the study.
They found that up to 32% of dementia cases could be attributed to hearing loss. This link held true even for those with mild hearing loss. However, individuals who only reported hearing issues without a hearing test did not exhibit the same increased risk—likely because self-reporting often underestimates actual hearing loss. The proportion of dementia cases associated with hearing loss was highest among individuals aged 75 and older, women, and white participants.
These findings suggest that treating hearing loss, particularly when identified through a proper hearing test, could delay or even help prevent dementia in many older adults. A key driver of noise-induced hearing loss is inflammation, which is also linked with dementia. Learn more in Aliquot #90: Inflammation and the Early Seeds of Dementia — and Its Prevention