ISLAMABAD, (National Times) – As we get older, most of us experience a gradual loss of hearing. One in 3Trusted Source people ages between 65 and 74 has some hearing loss, and almost half of those over 75 have difficulty hearing.<\/p>\n
Many people with age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, find hearing aids \u2014 electronic implements worn behind or in the ear \u2014 effective. These devices receive and magnify sound so the person can hear more clearly.<\/p>\n
Those with more severe hearing loss or who find hearing aids ineffective may benefit from a cochlear implantTrusted Source. This is a small surgical implant that bypasses damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. Signals from the auditory nerve are then interpreted by the brain.<\/p>\n
Hearing through a cochlear implant is different from typical hearing, so it takes time for a person to become accustomed to hearing with it.<\/p>\n
ResearchTrusted Source has suggested that there may be an association between age-related hearing loss and dementia, although a causal relationship has not yet been found.<\/p>\n
Now, a meta-analysis by researchers in Singapore, published in JAMA NeurologyTrusted Source, has found that using hearing aids or having a cochlear implant to treat age-related hearing loss may reduce a person\u2019s risk of subsequent cognitive decline, such as dementia, by as much as 19%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen in previous research that sensory impairments, like hearing loss, are associated with a higher risk for dementia. But this research tells us that addressing hearing loss\u2014in this case, with hearing restorative devices such as hearing aids\u2014may reduce the risk of cognitive decline.\u201d
\n\u2014 Dr. Heather Snyder, vice president of medical and scientific relations at Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/p>\n
Hearing loss and dementia<\/p>\n
Research has shown an association between age-related hearing loss and dementia. Although no causal link has yet been established, it is thought that hearing loss may increase the likelihood of dementia in one of the following ways:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Physical changes in the ear and brain cortex<\/p>\n
\u2022 Impaired social interaction may affect brain function<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hearing loss puts a cognitive burden on other functions<\/p>\n
\u2022 Changes in the brain may cause both hearing loss and dementia.<\/p>\n
In the new study, the researchers first screened 3,243 studies. Of these, they analyzed 31 studies with a total of 137,484 participants. They then further analyzed 19 studies quantitatively.<\/p>\n
The researchers analyzed cognitive scores and longitudinal data to investigate the long-term associations of hearing aids and implants with cognitive impairment and dementia.<\/p>\n
By pooling the results of several small randomized clinical trials and observational studies, they gave their analysis greater statistical power.
\nLower risk of decline with hearing correction<\/p>\n
In their meta-analysis, the researchers found a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline in those with hearing aids than in those with uncorrected hearing loss.<\/p>\n
Hearing correction reduced the risk of all stages of cognitive decline \u2014 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), conversion of MCI to dementia and incident dementia \u2014 by 19%.<\/p>\n
Dr. Emer MacSweeney, CEO and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe study certainly supports the early intervention, with hearing devices, for individuals with a decline in their hearing, especially in the context of concurrent cognitive decline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Improved cognitive scores with hearing devices<\/p>\n
The researchers also analyzed short-term cognitive test scores for participants before and after using hearing restorative devices and found a 3% improvement in scores when the devices were used.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are multiple pathways possible to explain this association. For example, it could be that people with hearing restorative devices are able to more fully participate and follow through on the cognitive assessments, or there may be a more mechanistic connection. This shows us an association that if you address hearing loss with intervention, you may benefit how someone rates on a cognitive evaluation,\u201d Dr. Snyder said.<\/p>\n
However, Dr. MacSweeney urged caution in placing too much emphasis on the improvement in cognitive scores.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is well recognized on cognitive testing that an individual\u2019s score is influenced, significantly, by how much of the question or instruction given by the examiner is heard, clearly, and therefore understood by the individual being tested. The MMSE and MoCA tests, used in the report, both require an individual to understand the verbal instructions, given by the examiner,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not unlikely that the better scores, with a hearing device, indicated a greater ability for the individual to take part in the cognitive tests and therefore to gain a score which more accurately reflected their true cognitive ability,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Testing and treating hearing loss<\/p>\n
The authors feel their findings show that it is likely that the cognitive burden of hearing loss may be responsible for the link with dementia rather than there being a linked physical cause.<\/p>\n
If a person is allocating a large amount of cognitive resources to trying to interpret sounds, they have fewer resources available for executive functioning and other cognitive tasks. If the hearing is improved, those cognitive resources can then be redirected back to other cognitive tasks.<\/p>\n
In addition, there is a linkTrusted Source between loneliness and social isolation, and dementia. One studyTrusted Source found that an extensive social network seems to protect against dementia.<\/p>\n
People with hearing impairments often avoid social situations, as Dr. MacSweeney pointed out:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen individuals have difficulty hearing they tend to \u2018zone out\u2019 and lose concentration in a conversation and become gradually less engaged in [\u2026] life around them, and then gradually make increasingly less effort to interact.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, by lessening a person\u2019s social isolation, hearing aids may also lessen cognitive impairment. The researchers call for further research in this area.<\/p>\n
Dr. Snyder advised it might also be beneficial to assess the two conditions in parallel:<\/p>\n
\u201cAssessment of sensory function should also play a role in assessing cognitive changes and diagnosing Alzheimer\u2019s. People with sensory impairments like vision or hearing loss should track them and discuss them with their doctor. Family members can play an important role in paying attention to sensory changes and encouraging assessment and follow up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, (National Times) – As we get older, most of us experience a gradual loss of hearing. One in 3Trusted Source people ages between 65 and 74 has some hearing loss, and almost half of those over 75 have difficulty hearing. Many people with age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, find hearing aids \u2014 electronic implements […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-showbiz","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n