Have you ever thought about having a hearing test? Do you wonder if your hearing health has a connection to cognitive decline?
Many studies have been conducted leading us to very definitive answers to this question. For example, check out this 2018 study at the National Library of Medicine. The conclusion held that:
Hearing aids may have a mitigating effect on trajectories of cognitive decline in later life. Providing hearing aids or other rehabilitative services for hearing impairment much earlier in the course of hearing impairment may stem the worldwide rise of dementia.
Hearing Loss Is Common, But Not Normal
The fact of the matter is that hearing loss is the 3rd most common chronic disease impacting older women (and men!). And even worse, hearing loss is closely linked to overall quality of life, i.e., isolation, depression, loneliness, and a generally poorer physical health. Yet, despite this alarming news, hearing loss remains substantially undertreated to this day.
The Lancet lists hearing loss as “a modifiable risk factor for the disease of dementia” and The Hearing Journal states:
While most studies on cognitive decline focus on older adults, recent data indicate that hearing loss onset in mid-life is associated with a dementia diagnosis before 60 years of age (i.e., early-onset dementia). Thus, in both mid-and later life, hearing loss increases the risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
Now, given the number of studies done and the fact that we know that there is a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline, it is safe to ask whether or not hearing aids could influence cognitive function.
Hearing Aids Improve Cognitive Function
A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center determined that, yes, older women who use hearing aids perform considerably better during cognition tests than others who do not use hearing aids.
In fact, it is well known today that having hearing loss contributes to a higher incidence of falls and accident-related deaths in older adults. Hearing aid use can assist with improving your social life and combating the emotional ins and outs of the struggles related to hearing loss.
Hearing aids are a simple yet effective way to slow or prevent dementia by keeping you engaged in conversation and communicating with your loved ones.
While we know that there is no cure for dementia, we also know that researchers consider hearing loss to be a significant risk factor for dementia. Therefore, it follows that wearing hearing aids can slow the progress of cognitive decline or reduce the risk of developing dementia.
According to a study done by top researchers, when testing for ‘executive function’ (cognitive tools that help us navigate our day-to-day lives) in 99 participants who wear hearing aids, “the increase in executive function was more pronounced in females than in males.” The same researchers monitored how often the participants wore their hearing aids and determined that those who wore them all the time experienced greater improvements in cognitive performance.
Although some risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia, such as genetics and age, cannot be changed, some can be reduced, and one of those modifiable risk factors is hearing loss.
Treatment Outcomes
The bottom line: wearing hearing aids and treating your hearing loss is one of, if not the, most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This simple step goes a long way to functionally increase cognition, reduce the number of ‘senior moments’ and increase the likelihood of keeping dementia at bay!
Until next time, your partner in healthy hearing!
Let’s Have a Conversation:
When was the last time you had your hearing tested? Did you know hearing evaluations are recommended starting at the age of 50 years young (‘ears and rears!’)? Have you researched the 12 modifiable lifestyle factors that can help you prevent dementia?
