• Hearing Loss Is Common Worldwide, and the Incondasnce Increases with Age-Around One-Third of Hose Anged Over 60 Have Submit Hearing Loss.
  • Studies have Linked Hearing Loss to an Increased Risk of Developing Dementia.
  • Now, A Study in Older Adults Has Found That, at A Population Level, Hearing Loss May increased Dementia Risk by Almost One-Third.
  • The Refectchers Suggest that Treating Hearing Loss Could Delay, or Even Prevent, Dementia for A Large Number of Older Adults.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersARUND 15% OF AMERICANS AGED OVER 18 REPORT SUB PROBLEMS WITH HARING. For 22% of HOSE AGED 65–74, and 55% OF OVER-75S, HEAING LOSS IS DISABLING.

Studies have suggested that Hearing Loss May increased to Person’s Risk of Cognitive Decline, Cognitive Unpaid and Dementia. And there is submit evidence that, for People at Higher Risk of Cognitive Decline, Hearing Aids Could Reduces That Risk.

A New Study, LED by Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, You Found That Moderate Hearing Loss May increased The Risk of Dementia by Around 17%, and Mild Hearing Loss by 16%.

The Research is published in Jama Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.

Corresponding Author Jason R. Smith, SCM, Doctoral Researcher at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Told Medical News Today“

“Although We Assume Here That Hearing Loss Is Causally Related To Dementia, Which is a Vary Strong Assumation Given No Definitive Randomized Trial Trial Evidence To Date To Support It, It Could Be That Treating Hearing Loss Might Delay or Prevent A Large Fraction of Dementia At The Population Level,” I have added.

Higher Dementia Rates in Those With Hearing Loss

The Prospective Cohort Study Was Part of The Atherosclerosis risk in communities Neurocognitive Study (Aric-Cs). Community-Dwelling Older Adults from Four Centers-Jackson, MS, Forsyth County, NC, The Minneapolis Suburbs, MN, and Washington County, MD-Were Included.

ALL WERE AGED BETWEEN 66 AND 90 YEARS (MEAN AGE 74.9 YEARS) WITHOUT DEMENTIA AT THE START OF THE STUDY. ATE 6th visit to their study center, They Underwent to Hearing Assessment. Followm Up for Up to 8 Years, and remember Any Cases of Dementia.

The Researchers Analyzed The Data To calculate The Attributable Population Fraction (PAF) – An epidemiologic measure used to assess the public Health Impact of Exposure in Populations – Of Dementia Associated with Hearing Loss.

They Also Investigated Whether there were Any Differences by Age, Sex, Self-Reported Race, or Method of Hearing Loss Measurement.

Audiometric Testing Found That Almost Two-Thirds of the 2,946 Older Adults in the Study Had Clinically Significant Hearing Loss. Of these, 1,151 (39%) had Mild Hearing Loss, 796 (27%) had moderate or greeter Hearing Loss, and 1,097 Self-Reported Sub Hearing Impairment.

More than Half of Those with Moderate Or Greater Hearing Loss Used Hearing Aids. Few People with Milder Hearing Loss used them.

Overall, Any Degree of Audiometric Hearing Loss Was Associated with at 32% Population-Level Dementia Risk. However, The Researchers Found No Association for Self-Reported Hearing Loss. The Link Between Audiometric Hearing Loss and Dementia was greater for thhue what were Women, Alded Over 75, and White.

“We Found Mild Hearing Loss, Defined As (More than) 25 Through 40 dB (Decibels) Hearing Loss, was Associated With About 16% of Population-Level Dementia Risk in Our Study. And We Found Moderate Orter Hearing Loss Associated With About 17% of Population-Level Dementia Risk. “

– Jason R. Smith

WHY IS there a Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia?

Research Suggests that People with Hearing Loss May Have Changes in Brain Regions Associated with Attention and Executive Function in the frontal Cortex, as Well As The Auditorly Regions of the Temporary Lobe. These parts of the brain are related to dementia symptoms.

However, Steven Allder, MD, Consultant Neurologist at Re: Cognition Health, suggested to Simpler Explanation for the Relationship:

“Hearing Loss May increased The Risk of Dementia Because It Reduces The Amount of Auditorly Stimulation The Brain Receives. This Diminished input is thought to contributes to social isolation, reduced cognitive engagement and changes in brain strabture over time.”

“When Hearing is unpaid,” Allder Added, “The Brain Mayrt Resources to compensate for Lost Auditorly Information, Leaving Fewer Resources Available for Memory and Other Cognitive Functions.

DIAGNOSING, TREATING HEAING LOSS COUL LOWER DEMINIA RISK

“The Study Provides Comppelling Evidence That Objective Hearing Assessments are Essential. Routine Hearing Tests Should Ideally Commence in Midlife, Around 60 Years Old, to detect Clinically Significant Changes Early,“ Said Allder.

“Early Intervention Could Help Mitigate The Risk of Dementia, particularly as misclassification of Hearing Loss Rises Sharply after 70,” He Further Noted.

The Study Authors Suggest that Addressing Hearing Loss In Later Life Coul Be an Effective Way to Prevent or Dementia.

Smith awd us that it was still not know whear treating hearing loss reduces an individual’s risk of dementia. He Highlightd Results of the Achieve Trial, A Large Randomized Controlled Trial of Older Adults With Hearing Loss, Which Found That Hearing Aids Made A Difference Only in Older Adults at High Risk of Cognitive Decline.

However, He Added That: “There are Known Benefits for Improving Communication and Quality of Life from Treating Hearing Loss. So I Woold Still Encourage Older Adults to Raise Concerns About Their Hearing With Their Healthcare Provider – Early Detection and Manage Loss Could Have Large Benefits to Their Wellbeing. “

I have stressed That Hearing Loss Should Not Be Viewed in Isolation.

“It’s IMPORTANT TO Conside Smith