Hearing Loss and the Risk of Dementia

Research suggests there may be a link between dementia and hearing loss, with people who experience a hearing issue in mid-life being at a greater risk of developing the neurological condition.

Studies have found individuals who start to have hearing problems between the ages of 40 and 65 may be more likely to experience dementia in later life. However, scientists say not everyone with hearing loss will develop dementia. It is just one factor that may contribute, although research hasn’t been able to explain why this is the case.

Does hearing loss increase the risk of dementia?

Data from the World Health Organisation suggests dementia and hearing loss may be linked. Almost twice as many people with mild hearing loss develop dementia compared with people with good hearing, according to the WHO.

The risks of dementia treble for people with moderate hearing loss and increase five-fold for those with severe hearing problems. Research suggests hearing loss may also be linked to faster shrinking of areas of the brain that process memories and sounds, leading to a decline in thinking and memory skills and an increased risk of dementia.

As we get older, we might begin to notice our hearing capability has declined. If this is the case, health professionals suggest going for a hearing test as soon as possible, as studies also suggest using a hearing aid can reduce the risks.

How to reduce risk of dementia

The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is by adopting a lifelong approach to good health. Experts believe changing some lifestyle behaviours can reduce the likelihood of dementia in later life.

A common issue impacting older people, age-related hearing loss often begins with problems in hearing conversations, particularly in a noisy environment. The symptoms can be so gradual at first that they may be hard to notice, so early detection might be hard.

There are two kinds of hearing loss, central and peripheral, both of which have slightly different impacts on our health. Central hearing loss occurs when a person struggles to process sounds in the brain and it can’t be alleviated with a hearing aid. This could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease that is affecting the brain’s processing areas.

The second type, peripheral hearing loss, is a decreased ability of the ears to detect sounds. This can put a person at a higher risk of having dementia later on. Book a hearing test yourself, or ask your GP to refer you to an audiologist, if you suspect hearing loss of any kind.

If there is an issue, research shows that those who use a hearing aid are less prone to developing dementia. Studies tracking the use of hearing aids over a long period of time have revealed it can lead to fewer dementia-related thinking problems and less memory decline.

Experts suggest managing loss of hearing is more successful when it is acted upon as soon someone notices there’s a problem. Take steps to protect your hearing when you’re younger – avoid listening to music that’s too loud, or use ear protection if you work in a job where there’s a lot of noise.

Dementia risk factors

Research shows the length of time and severity of a person’s hearing loss can negatively impact the risk of dementia. In addition, a person with hearing loss is often more likely to become isolated over time, as they tend to avoid social situations. Depression and social isolation both create a higher risk of dementia.

The areas of the brain that help people understand speech and sounds have to work much harder to function when the person has hearing loss. The extra effort can cause changes in the brain that affect our memory and ability to think. Unable to fully explain the links, the medical profession points out that because someone has hearing loss, it doesn’t mean they will automatically develop dementia.

Numerous studies have looked at the links between memory/thinking problems and peripheral hearing loss. Researchers have analysed many different research papers to reach a conclusion, comparing the results of people with a hearing problem with those of individuals with good hearing.

The findings indicate that hearing loss is one of 12 factors that lead to a higher risk of dementia. Other high risk factors include a person’s lifestyle such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. Health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson’s can also increase the risks of dementia.

People with both dementia and hearing loss can face additional challenges, such as communication problems and nocturnal disorientation, so may need extra care at night to keep them safe.

When someone with dementia has full mobility, but has sleeping issues that put them at risk of falling or climbing out of bed, the appropriate beds for dementia are an important part of their wellbeing.

For more information on Hearing Loss and the Risk of Dementia talk to Kinderkey Healthcare Ltd