New research finds link between hearing aids and dementia

Health & FitnessLifestyle
21 Aug 2025 • 5:19 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • New research suggests that using a hearing aid before the age of 70 can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.
  • A study published in JAMA Neurology, involving nearly 3,000 participants, found a 61 per cent lower dementia risk for those under 70 who used hearing aids after being diagnosed with hearing loss.
  • Despite these findings, only 17 per cent of people with moderate to severe hearing loss currently use hearing aids.
  • UCLA Health proposes that hearing loss may contribute to dementia by causing faster brain deterioration, increasing cognitive strain, and limiting social engagement.
  • Untreated age-related hearing loss, which affects a large proportion of older adults, is also linked to cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and poor social relationships.

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