Studies have found that hearing loss is associated with dementia in older adults. While research suggests that using hearing aids to treat hearing loss may slow the development of cognitive decline in people with an increased risk, this had not been tested in a large, randomized study.
To close this gap, NIH-funded researchers conducted a clinical trial with 1,000 older adults that compared the rate of cognitive decline among people who received hearing aids with that of people who did not. The findings show that hearing aids reduced cognitive decline among people who were at higher risk for dementia. In addition, the people who received hearing aids reported substantial improvement in communication abilities over the course of the study.
The researchers will continue to follow the participants and use brain scans and data on social engagement to better understand how protecting hearing may prevent cognitive decline in vulnerable older adults.
Read more about the connection between hearing aids, hearing loss, and dementia.
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