LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Treating hearing loss could help delay dementia. A new study shows how hearing loss isn’t just a part of aging for some people, it can also be a key factor in brain health.
The study, published in JAMA, found up to 32% of dementia cases in older adults may be tied to hearing loss. It followed nearly 3,000 older adults over an 8-year period.
“It affects your brain and when your brain is struggling to make sense of what people are saying, it puts strain on it and it takes away from memory and thinking so those parts of the brain aren’t stimulated anymore,” Elaine Backman, a hearing specialist with Belton Hearing Care Center said.
“Any hearing loss is something you should be concerned about, even a mild loss,” she added.
But there are way to mitigate the risk of dementia.
“Early intervention with a hearing aids of treating loss with a hearing aide helps you to be part of the community again, go out socialize,” she said. “When people can’t hear, they kind of don’t go to restaurants anymore, can’t hear when they go get their prescription and causes social isolation.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, hearing aids reduced the rate of cognitive decline in older adults by almost 50%. Backman says getting a hearing test around the age of 50 is a good idea unless you experience other changes.
“If you are struggling to hear the TV, if you are at a dinner with your loved ones, and you can’t hear what anyone is saying. you are just kind of sitting back laughing, when they laugh, when you don’t ever know what they are asking, or you notice that about a family member.” she added.
The cost for hearing aids can start at $1,500, but some health insurance plans cover the cost. Clinics may also offer financing options.
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