In a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, researchers from the Maastricht University (The Netherlands) examined the association between prevalent and incident hearing loss and cognitive change. Data were used from the Maastricht Aging Study, a large prospective cohort study on determinants of cognitive aging in community-dwelling adults. A total of 1,823 participants (24-82 years) underwent a comprehensive assessment of medical status, lifestyle, and anthropomorphic and neurocognitive measures at baseline, 6 and 12 years. Results suggested that prevalent and incident hearing loss were associated with faster cognitive decline in verbal memory, executive function, and information processing speed, independent from demographics and other modifiable risk factors.
Decline was steady from baseline to 6 and 12 years for prevalent hearing loss. For incident hearing loss, decline was confined to 6- to 12-year follow-up, suggesting that onset of hearing loss preceded or coincided with onset of decline. No differences in cognitive decline over time were found between participants who had hearing aids compared to those without, therefore hearing aids showed no clear benefit. Authors concluded by saying that their findings support the notion that hearing loss is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
