New research suggests that hearing loss in older adults is associated with specific changes in the brain that could potentially increase the risk of developing dementia. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California San Diego and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, utilized hearing tests and MRI to identify microstructural differences in brain regions responsible for auditory processing, speech, and executive function in individuals with hearing impairment.
Principal investigator Linda K. McEvoy emphasized that these changes could be attributed to the increased cognitive effort required to process sounds, indicating that the study underscores the importance of hearing protection and early interventions to mitigate dementia risk.
The study, which is part of the long-term Rancho Bernardo Study of Health Aging and was funded by various institutes including the National Institute on Aging and the American Federation for Aging Research, highlights the need for interventions such as hearing aids and quiet environments to reduce the risk of dementia associated with hearing impairment.
According to the findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, individuals with hearing impairment exhibited microstructural differences in the auditory areas of the temporal lobe and in areas of the frontal cortex involved with speech and language processing, as well as areas involved with executive function. The extra effort involved in trying to understand sounds may produce changes in the brain that lead to increased risk of dementia, the researchers reported.
The study further emphasizes the importance of protecting one’s hearing by avoiding prolonged exposure to loud sounds, wearing hearing protection, and reducing the use of certain medications. Co-authors of the study include Jaclyn Bergstrom, Donald J. Hagler Jr, David Wing, and Emilie T. Reas, all of UC San Diego.
The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging and the American Federation for Aging Research/McKnight Foundation, as well as the Rancho Bernardo Study of Healthy Aging, primarily supported by the National Institutes of Health. The authors highlight the availability of data from the study through their website, emphasizing the importance of the findings for protecting brain health and reducing the risk of dementia associated with hearing loss.