A Simple Measure — Not New, but Previously Listed in the Lancet’s Recommendations to Reduce Dementia

A recent study published in JAMA Otolaryngology has revealed a strong link between clinically diagnosed hearing loss and an increased risk of dementia among older adults.

The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, tracked 2,946 adults with an average age of 75 over an eight-year period. The results showed that 32% of the dementia cases recorded during the study period could be attributed to treatable hearing loss. In contrast, self-reported but undiagnosed hearing loss did not show a clear effect on dementia rates, highlighting the importance of early medical screening.

According to the findings, the risk of developing dementia was 16.2% among those with mild hearing loss and 16.6% among those with moderate to severe hearing loss. Higher rates were also recorded among women (30.8%) compared to men (24%), with those over the age of 75 being the most affected — reinforcing calls for early screening and therapeutic intervention.

The researchers emphasized that public health interventions targeting clinically diagnosed hearing loss “could provide a tangible benefit in preventing dementia.” Meanwhile, Dr. Isolde Radford from the Alzheimer’s Research Center in the UK stressed the need to include hearing tests in routine preventive checkups starting at age 40.

These findings align with growing scientific consensus on the preventive role that lifestyle factors can play in reducing the risk of dementia, and confirm that early intervention in sensory and cognitive health “could be a key to delaying or limiting the progression of the disease.”

Previous Study: The Lancet’s Dementia Prevention List

The Lancet Commission on Dementia published an extensive report in the summer of 2024, stating that nearly 40% of dementia cases could be prevented through changes in lifestyle and environment. These include healthy diet, regular physical activity, quitting smoking and alcohol, and reducing obesity, diabetes, social isolation, and depression — alongside maintaining cognitive activity, reducing exposure to air pollution, and expanding access to hearing, blood pressure, and cholesterol screenings.

The commission noted that dementia prevention is no longer considered impossible, even for those with a genetic predisposition, reinforcing the need for early health interventions and effective government policies to curb the spread of the disease.

Source: Daily Mail