Use of Hearing Restorative Devices Linked to Decreased Risk of Cognitive Decline
According to research published in JAMA Neurology, using a hearing aid to cope with hearing loss was associated with a 19% decreased risk in the likelihood of experiencing subsequent cognitive decline. In addition, those who used cochlear implants showed a 3% improvement in test scores for general cognition.
In this study, researchers analyzed data from clinical research trials and observational studies published in peer-review journals related to the effect of hearing interventions in adults aged 18+ with hearing impairment on cognition and dementia. A meta-analysis of 8 studies representing 126,903 participants in total with a range of follow-up from 2 to 25 years revealed a significant decreased risk in cognitive decline in those who wore hearing aids to assist with hearing loss compared with those with uncorrected hearing loss, even when the results were adjusted for potential confounders, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, and comorbidities (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.76-0.87). Further subgroup analysis of the data from the 8 studies revealed that individuals who wore hearing aids were nearly 30% less likely to progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia when compared with those with uncorrected hearing loss. The subgroup analyses did not find any evidence of geographic variability in the results.
A separate analysis performed on data from 11 studies representing 568 participants showed a 3% increase in cognitive test score results (MMSE, MoCa, DSST) in those who used hearing restorative devices. Further subgroup analysis of these data revealed a significant association between cochlear implants and improved cognitive test results (ROM, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05) but not with hearing aids and cognitive test results.
According to comments included in a related editorial by these researchers published in the same issue of JAMA Neurology, “While this finding does not prove a causal relationship, it provides convincing evidence that physicians should consider hearing evaluation… as part of a standard workup for patients who may be experiencing cognitive decline.”
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