Hearing loss and risk of dementia - Singapore study

A study by National University of Singapore and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital found that older Singaporeans who lose their hearing are 2.3 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Hearing loss affects more than 60 per cent of Singaporeans aged over 60. 

The study involved 1,515 Singaporeans, aged 55 and above, who went through two rounds of cognitive and clinical assessments at regular intervals of approximately three years. They had normal memory and thinking skills at the start.

Dementia, which takes many years to develop, occurs as a result of several factors. Most of these, including hearing loss, can be modified with suitable lifestyle changes, said Prof Ng.

While hearing loss does not cause mental decline or dementia by itself, the results show a link between untreated hearing loss and more rapid cognitive decline. 

"For example, those with hearing loss need more effort to hear a degraded sound, so less brain resources are available for thinking and memory," she said.

"Hearing loss results in less auditory stimulation and as a result, the hearing areas in the brain which are also involved in memory, become underused and decline in function."

It is also possible that hearing loss may give rise to social isolation, which is itself a risk factor for cognitive decline, she added.

Early diagnosis and intervention for hearing loss could therefore potentially delay dementia and cognitive decline, experts say.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/local-study-links-hearing-…