A new study involving 437,704 participants suggests that those experiencing hearing loss and not using hearing aids may have a higher risk of developing dementia than people without hearing loss or those who use hearing aids.
The researchers found a 1.7% risk of dementia in people with hearing loss who are not using hearing aids, compared to 1.2% among those without hearing loss or who are experiencing hearing loss but using hearing aids.
Dr. Susan Mitchell at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Although researchers are still working hard to understand exactly how hearing loss influences dementia risk, it’s clear that hearing is important for protecting brain health. And this study provides further compelling evidence that simple interventions like hearing aids can help people who are losing their hearing to protect their brain health.
“Like dementia, losing your hearing is not an inevitable part of ageing, so it’s important to get help and support at an early stage. That’s why we’re calling on the Government to include a hearing check in the existing NHS Health Check, which is freely available to over 40s. This will help millions of people in the UK know whether their hearing is affected earlier and take action to potentially help reduce their risk of dementia.
“With around 1 million people affected by dementia in the UK, and 12 million people estimated to have a type of hearing loss, it’s never been more important to understand more about the link between dementia and hearing loss. At Alzheimer’s Research UK, we’ll continue to fund vital research in this area.”
To access the full study, published online in The Lancet Public Health, visit: https://doi.org/10.1016/
