July 31, 2023—A new study found that addressing hearing loss could help reduce cognitive decline—particularly for people most at risk.
Hearing loss contributes to about 8% of new dementia cases each year, according to The Lancet Commission on Dementia. That might be because the brains of people with hearing loss must work harder to understand and process what is being said. And when people can't hear well, they often withdraw from social activities. This can lead to loneliness and isolation, which are also linked to dementia.
But there's good news for people with hearing loss. Treatment, such as hearing aids, can help reduce dementia risk.
What to know
A new study, published in The Lancet, found evidence that treating hearing loss can help reduce cognitive decline in those most at risk for it.
Researchers followed 977 adults between the ages of 70 and 84 with mild to moderate hearing loss for three years. Half of the research participants got care from an audiologist and hearing aids if they needed them. The control group got sessions with a health educator to discuss topics like disease prevention.
The researchers tested all the participants for cognitive decline—a decrease in memory and thinking abilities. Cognitive decline includes dementia, but it can also be mild. When they looked at the data from all of the participants, there were no significant differences between the control group and the group that received hearing treatment.
But when the researchers looked at the participants who had other risk factors for dementia, the results were dramatic. When the study participants who were at the highest risk for dementia got hearing aids and audiology care, their rate of cognitive decline slowed 48%.
The results suggest that adults at risk for cognitive decline may benefit most from addressing even mild hearing loss.
What you can do
If you're living with hearing loss, treatment can help. Hearing loss often happens gradually, and its signs can be subtle. Talk to your doctor if you:
- Have trouble understanding conversations with more than two people; over the phone; or in loud places, like restaurants.
- Frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
- Often turn the volume on your TV way up.
- Experience ringing in your ears.
Your doctor can help you find the cause of your hearing problem and connect you to the care you need. And if you need a hearing aid, these days it's easier than ever to find the right option—even without a prescription.
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