Dementia Awareness Week 2023 - Hearing loss and dementia - is there a link?

Dementia Awareness Week 2023

Hearing loss & dementia - Is there a link? 

Dementia Awareness Week 2023, 15th-21st May 2023

#TalkDementia

Dementia Awareness Week is a significant annual campaign that aims to increase understanding and support for individuals living with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers. Usually taking place in the second week of May, this observance seeks to raise awareness about dementia, its impact on cognitive function, and the challenges faced by those affected.

Dementia Awareness Week provides a platform to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of dementia, promote early detection, and encourage empathy and compassion for individuals living with this condition. It also highlights available resources, services, and research advancements in dementia care.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe a decline in cognitive function, including memory, language, and problem-solving skills. It is often associated with aging, but it can also occur in younger people due to a variety of medical conditions or injuries. Dementia can range in severity from mild to severe, and it can have a significant impact on a person's daily life and the lives of their loved ones.

Some would arguably say that there is a strong link between hearing loss and dementia. Studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, than those without hearing loss.  This article goes through the facts and common links.

We now have a better awareness

Over the years there have been many talks and editorials about the links between dementia and hearing loss.  Up until very recently, I wrote an article about the importance of being more dementia-aware and why a hearing aid could save your brain.  But, more on that later.

I vividly remember reading a newspaper article about a case of someone being misdiagnosed with dementia when they actually had hearing loss.  In short, this was a misunderstood hearing loss.  The reasoning?  Well, those with hearing loss can sometimes seem confused to others, as they simply can't interpret what is being said. 

Thanks to an increase in awareness and better education, this is now extremely rare.  That being said, the common links between these two conditions are fast becoming undeniable.  Studies continue to show that people with hearing loss are at a higher risk of developing dementia than those with 'normal' hearing.

A useful example would be the research undertaken at the John Hopkins University in Baltimore and the National Institute on Ageing.  Here they focused on monitoring the size of participants' brains using MRI screening over a period of ten years.  We all know that the brain does in fact get smaller with age and that people with a significant amount of brain tissue loss are at more risk of developing dementia.

This particular study showed that said participants who had hearing loss had significant brain tissue reduction when compared to those who didn't have hearing loss - especially those with a severe to profound level of hearing loss.  In fact, they lost an extra cubic centimetre of brain tissue each year.

Memory, stimulation and cognitive overload

Another reason for the link between hearing loss and dementia is that the brain regions that are responsible for processing sound also play a role in other cognitive functions, such as memory and attention. When these regions of the brain are damaged by hearing loss, it can lead to problems with cognitive function as well.

For instance, if parts of the brain are simply not being used their natural plasticity will send energy elsewhere.  The second is that the areas of the brain that process sound and language are also involved in processing memory.  As this area of the brain shrinks as a result of hearing loss - memory is affected at the same time.

Another theory is that those with hearing loss naturally need to concentrate more on what is being said, as well as hearing the sounds around them and focusing on visual cues.  This all means the brain has to work a little harder and results in straining the brain and ultimately cognitive overload.  It also means that there is less accessible energy for memory and processing tasks.

Additionally, it is thought that the brain may compensate for hearing loss by redirecting resources from other cognitive processes to the task of understanding speech, which can lead to cognitive decline over time.

Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Week 2023

Social isolation and depression increases the risk

Isolation and depression are common challenges for those with hearing loss and dementia

One reason for this link is that hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which is a risk factor for dementia. When people have difficulty hearing, they may withdraw from social activities and have less opportunity for cognitive stimulation. This can lead to a decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of developing dementia.

Therefore, those who are at high risk of developing dementia often suffer from social isolation and depression, which is also the same for those who are losing their hearing.  As it becomes harder to communicate with friends and family - most start to withdraw themselves.  Social occasions can be challenging for people with hearing loss and they can feel isolated in these scenarios.

Like those with dementia, who get anxious about feeling embarrassed or maybe people thinking they are mad, people with hearing loss get anxious about speaking out of context and perhaps people thinking they are silly.  In both cases, they can just give in to social isolation, withdraw and begin to feel depressed.

It's not all doom and gloom

Even though the cause-and-effect relationship between hearing loss and dementia is yet to be fully proven, it is abundantly clear that they are related in some way.  Not all people with hearing loss will develop dementia, but they are statistically at a higher risk of doing so.  It is also clear that an early diagnosis and treatment plan for hearing loss can slow the rate of brain tissue reduction by keeping the brain stimulated - avoiding cognitive overload.

Wearing hearing aids is one of the most successful forms of hearing loss treatments.  Keeping you socially active and connected for a greater quality of life.  Those who treat diagnosed hearing loss are proven to lose less brain tissue over time and with it reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Hearing loss and dementia - In conclusion

Overall, the link between hearing loss and dementia is complex and multifactorial. However, it is clear that addressing hearing loss is an important step in reducing the risk of developing dementia.

Hearing loss is common in older adults and early intervention is important to address it and prevent cognitive decline. There are several treatment options available such as hearing aids and communication devices that can help people with hearing loss stay socially engaged and reduce their risk of developing dementia.