The Link between Hearing Loss and Dementia

Adults with hearing loss are at a higher risk for Dementia and cognitive decline.

The risk of Dementia increases for those with a hearing loss greater than 25 dB (Lin FR, Albert M, 2014).

Individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss are up to 5 times as likely to develop dementia.

According to several major studies (Livingston et al, 2020) older adults with hearing loss—especially men— are more likely to develop dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Men with hearing loss were 69 percent more likely to develop dementia than those with no hearing impairment (Ford et el 2020).

The risk escalates as a person's hearing loss worsens. Those with mild hearing impairment are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal hearing. The risk increases three-fold for those with moderate hearing loss, and five-fold for those with severe impairment (Lin FR, Albert M, 2014).

Hearing loss linked to Dementia—what’s the connection?

Studies suggest that hearing loss causes brain changes that raise the risk for dementia (Pereira-Jorge et al, 2018).

Brain shrinkage — When the “hearing” section of the brain grows inactive, it results in tissue loss and changes in brain structure—creating the first link between hearing loss and Dementia.

Studies show that the brains of people with hearing loss shrink—or atrophy—more quickly than the brains of people with normal hearing.

Brain overload — An “overwhelmed” brain creates the second link between hearing loss and dementia. When it’s difficult to hear, the brain must work overtime just to understand what people are saying. Straining to hear all day, every day, depletes a person’s mental energy and steals brain power needed for other crucial functions like remembering, thinking, and acting. This can further set the stage for Dementia and other cognitive disorders.

Hearing aids may help to slow the progression of dementia and cognitive decline.

Numerous studies show that hearing aids not only improve a person’s hearing—they also help preserve a person’s independence, mental abilities, emotional and physical health, and work, home, and social lives. A full, happy life keeps your brain active.

Early identification and treatment of a potential hearing loss helps minimise risks later in life.

References

Ford, Andrew H, Graeme J. Hankey, Bu B. Yeap, Jonathan Golledge, Leon Flicker, Osvaldo P. Almeida, (2018) Hearing loss and the risk of Dementia in later life, Maturitas, Volume 112,

Lin FR, Albert M. Hearing loss and dementia - who is listening? Aging Ment Health. 2014;18(6):671-3. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2014.915924. PMID: 24875093; PMCID: PMC4075051.

Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, Ames D, Ballard C, Banerjee S, Brayne C, Burns A, Cohen-Mansfield J, Cooper C, Costafreda SG, Dias A, Fox N, Gitlin LN, Howard R, Kales HC, Kivimäki M, Larson EB, Ogunniyi A, Orgeta V, Ritchie K, Rockwood K, Sampson EL, Samus Q, Schneider LS, Selbæk G, Teri L, Mukadam N. ( 2020) Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2020 Aug 8;396(10248):413-446. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6. Epub 2020 Jul 30. PMID: 32738937; PMCID: PMC7392084.

Pereira-Jorge, M.R., Andrade, K.C., Palhano-Fontes, F., Diniz, P.R., Sturzbecher, M.J., Santos, A.C., & Araujo, D.B. (2018). Anatomical and Functional MRI Changes after One Year of Auditory Rehabilitation with Hearing Aids. Neural Plasticity, 2018.