How is hearing loss related to dementia?
How is hearing loss related to dementia?
In a study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, Johns Hopkins expert Frank Lin, M.D., Ph. D., and his colleagues found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
Why is hearing loss a risk factor for dementia?
Hearing loss increases the cognitive load, diverting cognitive resources to auditory processing at the expense of other cognitive processes such as working memory.5, 6 Another hypothesis is that hearing loss leads to social isolation, which has been shown to contribute to dementia.7, 8 The third prominent explanation …
Is hearing loss connected to memory loss?
Even relatively mild hearing loss can cause cognitive overload, which means people can experience hearing-related memory loss without having moderate or severe hearing problems. In fact, you may notice your memory loss before you’re aware of any reduction in your hearing function.
What happens if hearing loss is not treated?
Left untreated, hearing loss could lead to depression or anxiety and impair your relationships. We spoke with experts for more details about the effects of untreated hearing loss. The solution to hearing loss is not just increasing the volume of your TV or asking everyone to speak louder.
Does hearing loss get worse if untreated?
The most obvious reason to get help early is that hearing problems can get worse if you ignore them. Sometimes damage can be permanent. There are tiny hairs inside your ears that send sound waves to your brain.
How your brain understands what your ears hear?
The brain translates impulses from the ear into sounds that we know and understand. The tiny hair cells in our inner ear send electrical signals to the auditory nerve which is connected to the auditory centre of the brain where the electrical impulses are perceived by the brain as sound.
Why is there a relation between hearing loss and dementia?
Hearing loss and dementia can often occur together as we get older, and have an impact on each other. We know they are linked in several ways, but we don’t know exactly how. We’re funding vital research to find out more. Hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia . There is strong evidence to show that:
Why hearing loss is associated with dementia?
“Brain scans show us that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy in the brain,” Lin says. “Hearing loss also contributes to social isolation. You may not want to be with people as much, and when you are you may not engage in conversation as much. These factors may contribute to dementia.”
What is the correlation between hearing loss and dementia?
The Latest Study. A 2011 study initiated by the National Institute on Aging and conducted by Johns Hopkins explores the intriguing relationship between hearing loss and dementia.
Is there a correlation between hearing loss and dementia?
There are many risk factors associated with dementia, but one of the most recently discovered correlations is a condition that few would consider as even related to the disease. Research has identified hearing loss as a potential indicator of the development of dementia.