Is age-related hearing loss associated with increased risk for cognitive decline, dementia?

Bottom Line: Age-related hearing loss may be a risk factor for cognitive decline, impairment and dementia.

Why The Research Is Interesting: Age-related hearing loss is common. Research about a link between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline and dementia has been inconsistent. Understanding any possible association between hearing loss and cognitive decline could help with strategies to prevent cognitive decline and dementia with use of hearing assist devices.

Who: 20,264 participants in 36 studies

What (Study Measures): Age-related hearing loss (exposure) and measures of cognitive function, cognitive impairment, and dementia (outcomes).

How (Study Design): This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. A meta-analysis combines the results of multiple studies identified in a systematic review and quantitatively summarizes the overall association between the same exposure and outcomes measured across all studies.

Authors: David G. Loughrey, B.A. (Hons), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and coauthors

Results: There was a small association between age-related hearing loss and increased risk for cognitive decline (such as in executive function, episodic memory and processing speed), cognitive impairment and dementia.

Study Limitations: The studies analyzed were observational and cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information:
doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2017.2513

Provided by The JAMA Network Journals