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Hearing
aids might be an important tool in the effort to prevent cognitive decline
and dementia, according to a new study.
Research has established that
hearing loss is an important risk factor in the development of dementia,
but it’s been less clear whether intervening with hearing loss will also
treat the progression of cognitive decline, said senior study author Woei
Shyang Loh, head of otolaryngology at the National University Hospital and
National University of Singapore.
The study offers
evidence that managing hearing loss may help reduce or delay cognitive
decline, Loh said.
A meta-analysis of 3,243
studies, the research looked at the association between hearing loss and
cognitive decline over a range of time periods, from two to 25 years. The
review found that people with hearing loss who wore devices to help
performed 3% better in cognitive tests in the short term.
The use of hearing aids was
associated with a 19% reduction in long-term cognitive decline, the study
found.
When it comes to cognitive
decline, preventing progression is important, the authors noted.
“Dementia is far easier to
prevent than treat and exceedingly difficult to reverse,” said senior study
author Dr. Benjamin Tan, Dean’s Fellow at the Yong Loo Lin School of
Medicine at the National University of Singapore.
Hearing loss is fairly easy
to correct in developed countries, said Dr. Thomas Holland, physician
scientist of the Rush Institute for Health Aging. Holland was not involved
in the research.
“Get screened for hearing
loss, and if you do have hearing loss, speak with your audiologist or
physician ENT to ensure appropriate and optimal correction to help stave
off the potential dementia risk and cognitive decline,” Holland said.
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