Hearing loss and the risk of dementia
Learn about the link between hearing loss and dementia and how to manage hearing loss.
Does hearing loss increase the risk of dementia?
People who develop hearing problems during mid-life (aged 40–65) have an increased risk of developing dementia. It may also be one of the early symptoms of dementia.
Many people lose hearing as they age, though they may not notice it at first. To reduce the risk of dementia, getting your hearing tested is important. The use of hearing aids has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia to the level of a person with normal hearing.
Remember that hearing loss is only a risk factor and does not mean that a person with hearing loss will develop dementia.
Age-related hearing loss and dementia
Age-related hearing loss is a common condition affecting older people. It often starts with problems hearing what other people say, especially in noisy environments. Symptoms can start gradually and be difficult to notice. This makes early detection and treatment difficult.
There are two types of hearing loss: peripheral hearing loss and central hearing loss.
- Peripheral hearing loss is the reduced ability of the ears to detect sounds. This does increase a person’s risk of developing dementia.
- Central hearing loss involves problems with processing sounds in the brain, that are not able to be corrected with hearing aids. This may be a very early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, as sound-processing parts of the brain are affected by the disease.
Protect your hearing to reduce dementia risk
You may be able to book a free hearing test at your local optician or speak to your GP about being referred to an audiologist (a doctor for hearing). This will show up any hearing issues and provide ways of managing them, such as using a hearing aid.
Studies have shown that people who use hearing aids are less likely to develop dementia. Hearing aid use was also associated with fewer memory problems and thinking problems independent of dementia. Tracking hearing aid use over a long period showed that it was associated with less decline in memory skills.
Often, managing hearing loss works best when you start doing it early on. This means protecting your hearing from a young age. For example, you can avoid listening to loud noises for long periods and wear ear protection when necessary.
The link between hearing loss and dementia risk
If a person’s hearing worsens in mid-life, their risk of developing dementia when they are older increases.
People with hearing problems may be more likely to withdraw from social situations and become isolated. Social isolation and depression are both risk factors for dementia.
Hearing loss may also mean that the areas of the brain that help us understand sounds and speech must work harder to understand what sounds are. This additional effort may lead to changes in the brain that affect our memory and thinking abilities.
The link between hearing loss and dementia is not fully explained, but it does not mean that someone with hearing loss will go on to develop dementia – just that their risk is higher.
Hearing loss may be a risk factor for dementia, an early symptom, or both, but it is very difficult to determine on an individual basis.
Research on hearing loss and dementia
Many studies have examined the association between peripheral hearing loss and memory and thinking problems, or dementia.
A large piece of work looked at all the things that are related to an increased risk of developing dementia. When assessing a risk factor, researchers look at the number of people who develop dementia with that risk factor compared to those who don’t. In this case, researchers analysed many studies and showed that hearing loss is one of the twelve main factors that lead to the highest risk of developing dementia.
Nearly double the amount of people with mild hearing loss (at the World Health Organization threshold for diagnosis of hearing loss) will develop dementia compared to those without hearing loss. The risk tripled with moderate hearing loss and was nearly five times with severe hearing loss.
Even low levels of hearing loss have been associated with increased dementia risk and a decrease in memory and thinking skills. Hearing loss has also been shown to be linked to quicker shrinkage of areas of the brain responsible for processing sounds and memories.
Compiled by Nerésa Bowen
Resources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection