Sounding the Alarm: Hearing Loss and Its Role in Dementia

The latest aging research shows that not only are hearing loss and dementia connected, it’s also leading scientists to believe hearing loss may actually be a cause of dementia and cognitive decline.

“In terms of cognition and hearing,” says Valley View’s Internal Medicine Physician and Medical Director, Dr. Julie Cohen. “There are a few keys: Hearing loss can make relationships more difficult especially casual social encounters, group settings and larger social settings. When people struggle with hearing loss it can be embarrassing in social situations, it is harder to have conversations, and people retreat. Isolation is bad for cognition.”

“Secondly, if your brain is working really hard to hear and understand it’s using a lot of its function to figure out what people are talking about when people should be spending energy on more advanced functioning, like thinking and building memory.”

Dr. Cohen also mentions a third theory, that hearing loss can cause parts of the brain to begin atrophying faster. A kind of “use it or lose it” situation.

“Some people don’t mind not hearing, but using less of your brain makes it harder to keep that brain,” she says.

Approximately 37.5 million Americans experience some level of hearing impairment, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Research suggests that hearing loss may account for nearly 8% of dementia cases.

Could hearing aids help mitigate the risk?

“We don’t know for certain, but we believe they could,” says Dr. Cohen. “That’s why we strongly recommend them. Hearing aids help people maintain relationships and stay engaged in life outside the home, which is crucial for cognitive well-being.”

Dr. Cohen also suggests those with hearing loss stand face to face and three feet or less from conversation partners.

A recent study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed data from more than 2,400 older adults and found that those with severe hearing loss were more likely to have dementia. However, among hearing aid users, the likelihood of developing dementia was lower than in non-users.

These findings align with previous research indicating that treating hearing loss may be a proactive step in reducing dementia risk over time. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Cohen encourages individuals to be proactive about their hearing health. She advises discussing hearing concerns with your Valley View primary care provider at your annual visit and scheduling regular hearing screenings with an audiologist—ideally every five years or sooner if symptoms arise. If hearing loss is detected, hearing aids may be recommended to help preserve cognitive function.

As research continues to uncover the impact of hearing on brain health, one thing is clear: Taking care of your hearing may be an essential step in safeguarding your cognitive future.

To make an appointment with a Valley View Adult Primary Care Physician, click here.