Nearly 1 in 3 new cases of dementia may be linked to significant hearing loss — which affects many older Americans — according to a recent study.
Researchers analyzed medical records of more than 2,900 people with an average age of 75. They reaffirmed an association between being diagnosed with hearing loss and a higher rate of dementia.
Specifically, the researchers found that up to 32% of dementia cases could be attributed to hearing loss. The figure was higher among people aged 75 and older compared with those under 75, and higher among women than men.
Their findings, published in a scientific journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that treating hearing loss could delay dementia for many older folks.
The research builds on previous studies that have found links between hearing loss and higher rates of dementia. However, no direct causal relationship has been proven to date.
In an interview with United Press International, Jason Smith — a lead author of the study and doctoral student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore — said:
“It’s important that we also used an objective measure of hearing loss — previous research tended to use ‘self-report,’ which is known to underestimate the occurrence of hearing loss in older adults.”
Smith acknowledged that researchers still do not understand why hearing loss and dementia appear to be linked, although he speculated that hearing loss might increase social isolation and reduce opportunities for “cognitively enriching activities.”
In addition, hearing loss might “strain” the brain by forcing it to try to decipher sounds while also dealing with other tasks of daily living, Smith said. It’s also possible that hearing loss alters the brain’s structure or function.
Unfortunately, hearing loss is common in the United States, and it becomes increasingly prevalent with age, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Even disabling hearing loss is common among older Americans, affecting 5% of those aged 45-54, 10% of those aged 55-64, 22% of those aged 65-74 and 55% of those aged 75 and older.
For more on the possible role of hearing loss in dementia, check out “This Simple Medical Device May Cut Dementia Risk in Half.”
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