In a recent study from UNSW Sydney, researchers found a link between the impact of hearing loss on cognitive abilities and increased risk for dementia.
The study is published in Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. One author is Dr. Paul Strutt.
In Australia, hearing loss affects 74% of people aged over 70. International studies estimate that people with severe hearing loss are five times more likely to develop dementia.
Addressing midlife hearing loss could prevent up to 9% of new cases of dementia.
In the study, the team examined the link between self-reported hearing loss and cognition and increased risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
They used data from 1037 Australian men and women aged 70-90 years enrolled in CHeBA’s Sydney Memory & Ageing Study from 2005-2017.
The team found that people who reported moderate-to-severe hearing difficulties had poorer cognitive performances overall, particularly in the domains of Attention/Processing Speed and Visuospatial Ability.
They also had a 1.5 times greater risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the 6 years’ follow-up.
The researchers say the findings provide new hope for a means of reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in individuals with hearing loss.
The presence of hearing loss is an important consideration for neuropsychological case formulation in older adults with cognitive impairment.
Hearing loss may increase cognitive load, resulting in observable cognitive impairment on neuropsychological testing.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about these personality traits may protect you from dementia and findings of how your eyes could show early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about dementia treatment and prevention, please see recent studies about scientists find the key to preventing Alzheimer’s disease and results showing that these two things play big roles in dementia risk.
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