A new study conducted in Brazil has found that hearing loss during middle age may accelerate cognitive decline, raising concerns about the link between hearing health and dementia.
The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, followed 805 people in their 50s and found that those with hearing loss were at a greater risk of experiencing memory problems and cognitive decline as they aged.
The findings highlight the importance of paying attention to hearing health as a way to prevent dementia.
The study was part of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil), which has been tracking the health of 15,000 public servants from six universities and research centers since 2008.
Claudia Suemoto, a professor at the University of São Paulo’s Medical School and the study’s lead author, explained that hearing loss is considered a “modifiable risk factor” for dementia.
This means it is something that can be detected early and managed, potentially slowing down or preventing the onset of cognitive decline.
Suemoto emphasized that addressing hearing loss is particularly important for low- and middle-income countries like Brazil, where over 70% of people with dementia are expected to live by 2050.
She pointed out that the burden of dementia is not only individual but also collective, affecting families, communities, and health care systems. “There’s no way that Brazil and other similar countries can grow old with dementia,” she said, stressing the need for more local research on preventable risk factors.
The researchers identified two main ways that hearing loss may contribute to cognitive decline. The first is through its impact on how the brain receives information.
Hearing is a critical pathway for information to enter the brain, and when that pathway is disrupted, important brain areas are no longer stimulated.
This lack of stimulation can speed up cognitive decline. The second way is behavioral: people with hearing loss often struggle to participate in conversations, leading to social isolation.
Suemoto noted that many older adults with hearing problems gradually withdraw from social interactions because it becomes too difficult to keep up with conversations. This social isolation is itself a known risk factor for dementia.
To study the impact of hearing loss on cognitive function, the participants underwent hearing tests called audiometry three times over an eight-year period. During the same time, their memory, language skills, and executive function were also assessed.
The results showed that the 62 participants (7.7%) with hearing loss experienced faster cognitive decline than expected for their age. In addition to overall cognitive decline, tests showed more specific reductions in memory, verbal fluency, and executive function.
Suemoto highlighted the importance of regular hearing tests, noting that many people are unaware of their hearing loss until it is quite advanced. She added that using hearing aids and addressing the causes of hearing damage, such as noise exposure, can help prevent further decline.
Noise-related hearing loss is common in middle-aged adults, often due to loud work environments or excessive use of headphones at high volumes. Suemoto stressed that protective equipment and better awareness of hearing health could make a significant difference.
The study also pointed out that hearing loss is just one of 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia. Others include low education, high blood pressure, brain injuries, diabetes, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, depression, lack of physical activity, air pollution, and social isolation.
According to the researchers, addressing these risk factors early could help reduce the global burden of dementia and improve the quality of life for millions as they age.
If you care about hearing health, please read studies about antibiotic drug that can lead to hearing loss, and whether you should get an hearing aid or see a specialist.
For more health information, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
Source: FAPESP.
