Understanding the link between dementia and hearing loss

Dementia: how to make sense of the link with people who struggle to hear over background noise
Struggling to hear an announcement in a busy place is one sign of poor speech-in-noise hearing. Credit: Keith Gentry/ Shutterstock

The number of people living with dementia is projected to treble from 50 to 150 million worldwide by 2050. Although there’s currently no cure for the condition, researchers are continuing to learn about how people can reduce their risk through making lifestyle changes (such as exercising more or quitting smoking) and managing health issues (including diabetes and hypertension).

Hearing loss may also be a potential target for preventing dementia. Studies show that impairment is linked to a greater risk of dementia—and that…

Read more…