Hearing aids may reduce dementia risk in high-risk individuals.
Hearing aids may reduce dementia risk in high-risk individuals.
Treating Hearing Loss with Hearing Aids May Protect Against Dementia
If you’re hard of hearing and at a higher risk for dementia, here’s some good news – hearing aids may be a win-win solution. New research published in The Lancet suggests that hearing aids could potentially reduce cognitive decline in older adults, particularly in those at a higher risk of developing dementia.
Dr. Frank Lin, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, stated, “These results provide compelling evidence that treating hearing loss is a powerful tool to protect cognitive function in later life, and possibly, over the long term, delay a dementia diagnosis.” The study emphasizes that the cognitive benefits of treating age-related hearing loss may vary depending on an individual’s risk of cognitive decline.
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline in various ways. It can strain the brain, making it work harder to hear and potentially impairing other mental functions such as thinking and memory. Additionally, hearing loss may speed up the brain’s aging process, contributing to brain atrophy. Moreover, people with untreated hearing loss may become less socially engaged, leading to further cognitive decline.
The ACHIEVE randomized trial, conducted across multiple locations in the United States, involved 977 adults between the ages of 70 and 84 with untreated hearing loss. Participants were divided into two groups: one at a higher risk of cognitive decline, and the other comprised generally healthier individuals.
The study groups underwent different interventions: one group received audiological counseling and hearing aids, while the other received generalized counseling on healthy aging (control group). Researchers conducted follow-ups twice a year over a three-year period, assessing executive function, language, and memory through various tests.
- New drug enhances outcomes for ulcerative colitis patients.
- New opioid use increases death risk 11-fold in individuals with dem...
- New drug approved by FDA to protect infants from RSV
After three years, there was no significant difference in cognitive decline between the two groups as a whole. However, when analyzing the higher-risk group separately, the study found that those who received hearing aids experienced a 48% reduction in cognitive decline compared to those who didn’t.
Interestingly, for the healthier group, there was no significant difference in cognitive change between the intervention group and the control group over the three-year period. This suggests that treating hearing loss with hearing aids may be more beneficial for older adults at a higher risk of developing dementia.
It is estimated that around two-thirds of adults over 60 worldwide suffer from age-related hearing loss. Shockingly, less than 10% of people with hearing loss use hearing aids in low- and middle-income countries, while the number is below 30% in high-income countries. The authors of the study highlight that untreated hearing loss contributes to approximately 8% of dementia cases globally, accounting for around 800,000 of the nearly 10 million new dementia cases diagnosed each year.
Co-author Marilyn Albert, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, expressed eagerness regarding the ongoing follow-up study called ACHIEVE, which aims to explore the longer-term effects of hearing aids on cognition in populations at a lower risk of dementia. Additionally, further analysis of MRI and social engagement data will shed light on how hearing aids can potentially delay cognitive decline.
It is important to acknowledge some study limitations. Participants and researchers were aware of the intervention, which could have influenced the results. Additionally, two of the ten neurocognitive tests used in the study solely relied on auditory stimuli, potentially leading to poorer performance for those with untreated hearing loss.
This groundbreaking study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association’s international conference.
Conclusion
Treating hearing loss with hearing aids holds significant potential to protect against cognitive decline in older adults, particularly those at a higher risk of developing dementia. The study emphasizes the varying cognitive benefits of treating age-related hearing loss based on an individual’s risk of cognitive decline. With the prevalence of age-related hearing loss and its significant impact on dementia cases, ensuring access to hearing aids becomes crucial. Future research, such as the ongoing ACHIEVE study, will provide further insights into the long-term effects of hearing aids on cognitive decline, enabling better understanding and potential interventions.
