Study finds that hearing aids may reduce dementia risk for senior with hearing loss

Study finds that hearing aids may reduce dementia risk for senior with hearing loss | WUSF Public Media

I found it a bit confusing and I'll probably have difficulty explaining but...

I read it a couple of times and the original JAMA Neurology study as well. They seemed to mention the effects of deafness on socialization and how that in itself is a risk. That's the area I picked up on in particular.

The thing is that by choice I am not a social person and I do have some hearing loss but my hearing loss doesn't affect how social I am. It also doesn't affect my watching news, movies or shows on a computer. Headphones are great for that. I do not watch actual television on a tv. I don't have a tv set up. I always had trouble with distortion of sound and the competition with other noises in the room. When I did have tv set up I only enjoyed it if I was wearing special headphones. Sensory difficulties. In fact I believe I have over-compensated with reading, so I would hope that my continued learning via my vision would be enough to keep the cognitive areas working quite well. Maybe not according to the information in the study?

I guess if one was hearing impaired and visually impaired that would be a totally different thing especially for people who are social beings. It always seems to come back to social skills and for those of us who are a little differently abled and don't find happiness in socializing, then it would be just awful that it could lead into dementia.

Then again for those who are seriously hearing impaired, perhaps it's a bit the same in that there is so much distortion with sounds that it makes people unable to both socialize or listen to any sounds on a computer or tv etc. and that slows down the learning process and leads to decline and onto dementia?

Is that what they're saying? That the hearing loss makes people less social and therefore raises the risk of dementia? I may have it all wrong. I shall read it again.

Hi Lara
I also heard a detailed discussion about the most recent study on our local NPR today.
They emphasized the negative impact on pathways that are not used in the brain when the level of hearing decreases, so less information processing and speech recognition, which in turn seems to then start impacting the brain zones for cognition.
They did also mention the social aspects, but seemed far more focused on the neural pathways impacted when hearing loss occurs, and that link to cognition.
Obviously much more detailed research is needed, but with hearing aids finally affordable OTC here, instead of the silly RX $$ previously, it seems it may be helping with more than just hearing better.

I'll see if they have a transcript or article up and link it.
The one I linked had a variable series of studies included, not just the recent one.

Here's one transcript from a previous NPR interview on the connection Lara
I don't see today's up yet, but will link when it is.

Hearing loss is a direct link to dementia. Easier access to hearing aids could help : NPR

Excellent, thank you. Just reading a little of it so far and it's making more sense to me.

I also saw that on that same news site you first posted there was an NPR video on Anxiety screening in under 60's, but the link wouldn't work for me. I'll look for that on the NPR site too. appreciated.

Here's the latest one with a link to listen to the discussion:
Study finds that hearing aids may reduce dementia risk for seniors with hearing loss

It's very interesting isn't it. I look forward to the results of their larger study. The last time I visited my optometrist I noticed that they had free hearing testing available. That was pre-covid. It wasn't something I thought was all that important at the time. Everyone should take advantage of these services if they're available. thanks for posting.