Untreated Hearing Loss might be a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia.

Untreated Hearing Loss might be a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia.

Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. The illness gets worse over time. It mainly affects older people but not all people will get it as they age.

researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed the health data of 2,400 adults over the age of 65. About half of the people in the group were 80 and older. The researchers found a correlation between the severity of someone’s hearing loss and their risk of developing dementia. Among individuals with hearing loss that was rated as moderate to severe, the incidence of dementia was 61% higher than in those with good hearing. When the use of a hearing aid was added to the calculations, the prevalence of dementia was reduced by 32%.