Hearing aids may delay onset of dementia – Study

Post on 25th February 2021

Untreated hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of dementia for some time. Now a new study has suggested that using hearing aids can delay dementia onset in people with auditory problems by up to five years.

Researchers in Northern Ireland studied 2,114 people over 50 with a hearing impairment. They found that a third of them who wore hearing aids had not developed dementia five years after a diagnosis of MCI or mild cognitive impairment, yet the figure was only a fifth for those who did not wear a hearing aid.

While MCI is not defined as a form of dementia, those diagnosed with it are more likely to go on to develop dementia.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions.

Further research and clinical trials are needed into the links between using hearing aids and slowing the onset of dementia. But with no cure for dementia and the devastating effects it can have, any action people can take is surely worth considering.

At Scrivens we regularly see the benefits hearing aids can bring to those living with hearing loss, improving their quality of life so that they can pick up sounds and conversations, join in and feel less isolated.

Left untreated, hearing loss can lead to social isolation and other conditions that all have links with dementia related diseases. It’s a cause we care about and have supported Alzheimer’s Society as our charity of the year since 2015.

If you are concerned about your hearing you can seek help and advice at your local Scrivens branch which remains open for business as an essential healthcare provider.

Scrivens recommends an annual hearing health check for anyone over 50 to identify any changes and see what action is needed. Many of our branches provide a free NHS hearing service for people who are eligible.