The Relationship between Hearing Loss and Dementia
Studies show that people who have difficulty with hearing are at a higher risk to develop dementia. After following over 600 adults who had initially tested dementia free, and tracked for nearly 12 years, a John Hopkins expert found that even mild hearing loss doubled a risk for dementia. This risk for dementia increased triple with moderate hearing loss and people with a severe hearing impairment were actually five times more likely to develop dementia. The research also found that hearing loss is linked with walking problems and an increased fall risk.
So what is the connection? Hearing loss can contribute to social isolation, as people who don’t hear well may avoid social settings. This can result in a decrease of daily stimulation and engagement in life. Also, the brain scans done in the study showed that hearing loss may contribute to an increased rate of brain atrophy. The hearing loss makes the brain work harder and the subtle cues needed for walking are muted and may interfere with mental processing needed to walk safely. When there is less auditory input, the auditory centers in the brain begin to degenerate and the brain struggles to compensate for the loss. This results in the brain using more resources to process auditory information and the brain is less available for other important cognitive functions such as memory or learning.
Are hearing aids the answer to slowing down cognitive decline and reduce these risks? Dr. Frank Lin from Johns Hopkins University did a study published in 2023 with seniors experiencing hearing loss, and divided in two groups. One group were given hear aids and the second group received a health-education program. The study showed that those who used hearing aids versus a group who receiving education on overall health, had a substantial improvement in communication abilities. When looking at those with a higher risk of dementia, the people who used the hearing aids had an almost 50% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline compared to the health-education group.
“Until we know more,” Lin adds, “we recommend for general health and well-being that older adults have their hearing checked regularly and any hearing issues properly addressed.”
It is recommended that if you have hearing loss, don’t let the stigma or myths keep you from getting help. There are nearly 27 million Americans age 50 and older with hearing loss and sadly only one in seven uses hearing aids. On average, people wait 10 years before getting help with hearing loss. But during this time, communication with friends and loved ones become more difficult and isolation increases.
It is normal to feel worried that hearing loss means you are aging and you are embarrassed at the thought of wearing a hearing aid. But the good news is that the aids today are not like those your grandparent wore. They are much smaller and less noticeable. Keeping socially active as you age helps the brain stay young and can keep you involved with life. Loneliness affects overall health and can cause a sense of lack of belonging and purpose.
So don’t let life pass you by because of a fear of “looking old.” Connect with friends often, and most importantly, make sure you hear what they saying. They may be talking about you!
If you would like more information on our Memory Ministry or our Memory Cafe please contact Vicky Pitner at vpitner@firstumc.org.