The Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Dementia
Studies show that people who have difficulty with hearing are at a higher risk of developing dementia. After following over 600 adults who had initially tested for dementia-free and tracked for nearly 12 years, a John Hopkins expert found that even mild hearing loss doubled the 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 reducing these risks? It has not been established correcting hearing loss can significantly reverse or slow ongoing cognitive decline; however, addressing the hearing loss can greatly influence overall quality of life. There is no downside to using hearing aids, and they can allow people to reengage with friends and family and stay involved in life.
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.