A new report published by the Lancet Commission suggests that hearing loss is a significant modifiable risk factor against dementia. In fact, moderate hearing impairment can increase one’s dementia risk 3-fold1. Hearing loss could lead to lowered mental stimulation and isolation. It is thought, managing hearing loss may help protect against cognitive decline by keeping the brain actively engaged in everyday life.
The 2020 Report by The Lancet Commission entitled: Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care was released on July 30th, 2020. The latest research states that modifying 12 risk factors from childhood to late life could delay or prevent 40% of dementia cases. These lifestyle factors can be adjusted in order to reduce one’s risk for developing dementia. The 12 modifiable risk factors are presented below:
Of these 12 risk factors, an untreated hearing loss in midlife is a significant modifiable risk factor of dementia. Additionally, dementia risk varies based on level of hearing loss.
The recent study by the Lancet also cites that “hearing loss might result in cognitive decline through reduced cognitive stimulation.”1
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Sources:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21320988/
2. G Livingston, Jonathan Huntley, Andrew Sommerlad, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet. July 30, 2020.
3. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis
4. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s
5. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
6. https://www.alz.co.uk/info/early-symptoms
7. https://www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/media/39130/bsa-33-attitudes-to-dementia.pdf
