If you are familiar with dementia you know what a harrowing ordeal this disease can be. For those who don’t know, dementia is a degenerative medical condition that slowly eats away at your memory, clarity of thought, and hence the ability to perform daily tasks. A medical condition that seems to have jumped straight out of a tragic soap opera, dementia can eventually make you forget your own self and your memories.
According to the World Health Organisation, some risk factors that can aid the development of dementia are old age, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, binge drinking, and depression. However, numerous studies have now highlighted that the risk factors of dementia also include an angle of isolation. Factors that can cut you off from society like lethargy, living alone, and not being able to hear properly can also increase the likelihood of developing dementia.
That is why a National Institutes of Health-funded study found that using hearing aids in older adults at high risk of dementia, reduced the rate of cognitive decline by almost 50% over three years. To know more about the link between hearing loss and dementia, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Supriya Mohite, Masters Audiology and Speech-Language Pathologist, Owner and Founder, Hear-It Hearing & Speech Clinic, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
Hearing Loss And Dementia
According to the Lancet, hearing loss accounts for nearly 8% of dementia cases. This means that hearing impairment causes almost 8,00,000 of the 10 million new cases of dementia diagnosed every year.
Explaining why this happens, Dr Mohite said, “When hearing declines, the brain works harder to process sounds, diverting resources from other cognitive functions.”
She added, “Social isolation often follows as communication becomes challenging. Loneliness and reduced mental stimulation may accelerate cognitive decline.”
This comment by Dr Mohite is corroborated by research published in JAMA Network Open, which suggested that loneliness can increase the risk of dementia, particularly in cognitively impaired elderly. This is because loneliness causes:
- Increased stress, inflammation, and elevated levels of stress hormones like cortisol. This damages brain health and leads to cognitive impairment.
- A lack of social interactions, conversations, and engaging activities reduces cognitive stimulation which is vital for brain health.
- Feeling lonely also disrupts sleep patterns and quality of sleep, which can exacerbate cognitive impairment.
- Loneliness may cause depression and anxiety, which can further impair cognitive function and increase the risk of dementia.
“Furthermore, hearing loss can impact brain structure, affecting areas crucial for memory and learning,” Dr Monite elucidated.
Also Read: Tips To Prevent Hearing Loss: Here's How Everyday Sounds Are Detrimental For Your Ears
Hearing Aids Prevent Dementia
If the Lancet report is not enough for you to pay attention to your or the hearing impairment of older people in your family, another study conducted by experts from Johns Hopkins found more concerning facts. As per their findings, ‘mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled the risk, and people with severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.’
“Regular hearing check-ups and hearing aids can help mitigate these risks, emphasising the importance of addressing hearing loss to support overall brain health and potentially lower the risk of dementia,” stressed Dr Mohite.
Explaining how hearing aids can be a potential lifesaver in people at risk of developing dementia, she said, “Hearing aids play a crucial role in overcoming dementia by addressing hearing loss. When hearing is improved, social engagement increases, reducing feelings of isolation linked to cognitive decline.”
Also Read: Ignoring Your Hearing Ability? Expert Explains The Importance Of Early Detection For Hearing Loss
She concluded that treating hearing loss with aids may also ease the cognitive load on the brain. By enhancing communication and mental stimulation, hearing aids contribute to a more active and connected lifestyle, potentially mitigating the risk of dementia. These small devices thus emerge as powerful tools in supporting cognitive health and fostering a better quality of life.