Age-related hearing loss and amyloid in the brain

What is it about?

Hearing loss is independently associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline in older adults and has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. The mechanism for this association is unknown, and there has been limited exploration of potential casual pathology. This study measured whether there was an association between degree of audiometrically measured hearing loss and brain amyloid in older adults with and without hearing loss. Degree of HL was not associated with amyloid deposition in the brain.

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Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Understanding whether there is a relationship between amyloid accumulation in the brain and hearing loss is important because if there is a relationship, a significant opportunity exists to prevent amyloid accumulation through increasing uptake and use of hearing aids. Hearing aid use worldwide is currently very low; between 11-20% of people who need hearing aids use them.