CNN
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Hearing aids may be an important tool in preventing cognitive decline and dementia, according to new research.
Studies have established that hearing loss is an important risk factor for the development of dementia, but it is less clear whether hearing loss interventions treat the progression of cognitive decline, says the Department of Otolaryngology at a national university. said Woei Shyang Loh, lead study author of . Hospital and National University of Singapore.
New study published Monday in JAMA Neurology Loh says it provides evidence that managing hearing loss may help reduce or delay cognitive decline.
This study, a meta-analysis of 3,243 observational and trial studies, examined the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline over time periods ranging from 2 to 25 years. The review found that a hearing-impaired person wearing hearing aids improved her cognitive score by 3% over a short period of time.
A study found that hearing aid use was associated with a 19% reduction in long-term cognitive decline. When it comes to cognitive decline, it’s important to prevent progression, the study authors noted.
“Dementia is much easier to prevent than to treat, and very difficult to reverse,” said senior author of the study and Dean Fellow of the National University of Singapore Yonglourin Medical College. said Dr. Benjamin Tan.
Hearing loss is a major risk factor for cognitive decline, but it’s fairly easy to correct in developed countries, says Dr. Thomas Holland, a physician at the Rush Institute for Health Aging. Holland was not involved in the study.
“Get screened for hearing loss. If you have hearing loss, see an audiologist or otolaryngologist for the appropriate and optimal correction to help reverse potential dementia risk and cognitive decline. Be sure,” said Holland.
The researchers said the next question that needs to be examined is whether the severity of hearing loss alters the effectiveness of interventions in terms of preventing cognitive decline.
But in the meantime, people with hearing loss should consult their doctors about whether using hearing aids is appropriate, Tan said.
It’s also never too early to intervene, he added, noting that new research shows benefits accrue over time.
“Therefore, affected patients should start treatment now if they want to see benefits in a few years,” Tan said.
But the use of these devices may also benefit those who have begun to show cognitive decline, and new research suggests that even without the early addition of hearing aids, patients can still benefit. He added that he could
“Encouragingly, even patients who had already started with mild cognitive impairment (“early dementia”) in the pooled analysis had an approximately 20% lower risk of progressing to dementia, thus benefiting from hearing aid use. Received,” Tan said in an email. “This means it’s never too late to start using hearing aids, but early treatment can help preserve most cognitions.”
But hearing aids are not the only way to prevent cognitive decline, says Holland, and a balanced preventative approach is key.
“Have your hearing tested by an audiologist or doctor, and try to implement healthy lifestyle modifications that have been shown to slow or reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
They include healthy eating patterns like the MIND diet aimed at preventing Alzheimer’s disease. mediterranean dietsaid the Dutch. It also includes moderate to vigorous physical activity, an active social life, adequate sleep and stress reduction.
Holland recommends seeing your doctor once a year to properly manage your blood sugar and blood pressure, which are important for brain health.
Cognitive stimulating activities, such as visiting museums, reading books, and starting new hobbies, are also important to incorporate into your life, says Holland.
