Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Hearing and Dementia: Is There a Connection?

  • Published:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

We present a review of Russian and foreign literature on current views of connections between hearing loss and dementia. Hearing loss is one of a few potential modifiable factors from the point of view of preventing dementia, and the studies addressed here confirm the need for continuing research on this correlation for a clearer understanding of the benefit of treating hearing loss to improve cognitive functions. It must not be forgotten that deafness also has social consequences in the form of decreased daily activity, communication functionality, loss of independence, and impairment to the ability to drive, and this again confirms the importance of timely correction of hearing impairments. This review also considers the challenge of solving problems of late diagnosis and lack of therapy and rehabilitation of deafness in the aged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. N. N. Yakhno, V. V. Zakharov, A. B. Lokshina, et al., Dementia: Guidelines for Doctors, MEDpress-inform, Moscow (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  2. S. A. Gale, D. Acar, and K. R. Daffner, “Dementia,” Am. J. Med., 131, No. 10, 1161–1169 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.01.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. O. S. Levin, Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia in Clinical Practice, MEDpress-Inform, Moscow (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  4. O. L. Lopez and L. H. Kuller, “Epidemiology of aging and associated cognitive disorders: Prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias,” Handb. Clin. Neurol., 167, 139–148 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804766-8.00009-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Peracino, “Hearing loss and dementia in the aging population,” Audiol. Neurootol., 19, Suppl. 1, 6–9 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1159/000371595.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. R. Heywood, Qi Gao, Ma Shwe Zin Nyunt, et al., “Hearing loss and risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: Findings from the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study,” Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord., 43, No. 5–6, 259–268 (2017), https://doi.org/10.1159/000464281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. V. V. Zakharov, “Principles of the management of patients with cognitive impairments without dementia,” Ross. Med. Zh., 12, 1645 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  8. V. V. Zakharov, “All-Russian program for studies of the epidemiology and treatment of cognitive disorders in the elderly (“Prometheus”),” Nevrol. Zh., 11, 27–32 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. Behrman, L. Chouliaras, and K. P. Ebmeier, “Considering the senses in the diagnosis and management of dementia,” Maturitas, 77, 305–310 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.01.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. R. S. Wilson, S. E. Arnold, J. A. Schneider, et al., “Olfactory impairment in presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1170, 730–735 (2009), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04013.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Yu. V. Levina, N. L. Kunelskaya, and I. V. Ivanets, “Tonal threshold audiometry over an extended frequency range in air: age aspects,” Vestn. Otorinolaringol., 2, 12–13 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  12. N. L. Kunelskaya, Yu. V. Levina, E. V. Garov, et al., “Presbyacusis – a current problem in an aging population,” Vestn. Otorinolaringol., 84, No. 4, 67–71 (2019).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Davis, C. M. McMahon, K. M. Pichora-Fuller, et al., “Aging and hearing health: The life-course approach,” Gerontologist, 56, Suppl. 2, 256–267 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.01.022.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. F. R. Lin, K. Yaffe, J. Xia, et al., “Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults,” JAMA Intern. Med., 173, No. 4, 293–299 (2013), https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. J. A. Deal, J. Betz, K. Yaffe, et al., “hearing impairment and incident dementia and cognitive decline in older adults: The Health ABC Study,” J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., 72, 703–709 (2017), https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw069.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. M. E. Fischer, K. Cruickshanks, C. R. Schubert, et al., “Age-related sensory impairments and risk of cognitive impairment,” J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 64, 1981–1987 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14308.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. A. Maharani, P. Dawes, J. Nazroo, et al., “Longitudinal relationship between hearing aid use and cognitive function in older Americans,” J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 66, 1130–1136 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15363.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. M. Osler, G. T. Christensen, E. L. Mortensen, et al., “Hearing loss, cognitive ability, and dementia in men age 19–78 years,” Eur. J. Epidemiol., 34, No. 2, 125–130 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-018-0452-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. S. Ellis, S. Sheik Ali, and W. Ahmed, “A review of the impact of hearing interventions on social isolation and loneliness in older people with hearing loss,” Eur. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol., 278, 12, 4653– 4661 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06847-w.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. D. S. Chen, J. Betz, K. Yaffe, et al., “Association of hearing impairment with declines in physical functioning and the risk of disability in older adults,” J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., 70, No. 5, 654– 661 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu207.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. F. R. Lin, “Hearing loss and cognition among older adults in the United States,” J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., 66, No. 10, 1131– 1136 (2011), https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glr115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. F. R. Lin, K. Yaffe, Jin Xia, et al., “Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults,” JAMA Intern. Med., 173, No. 4, 293–299 (2013), https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Y. Uchida, S. Sugiura, Y. Nishita, et al., “Age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline – The potential mechanisms linking the two,” Auris Nasus Larynx, 46, No. 1, 1–9 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2018.08.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. F. R. Lin, K. Yaffe, J. Xia, et al., “Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults,” JAMA Intern. Med., 173, No. 4, 293–299 (2013), https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1868.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. S. C. Rigters, D. Bos, M. Metselaar, et al., “Hearing impairment is associated with smaller brain volume in aging,” Front. Aging Neurosci., 9, 2 (2017), https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00002.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Ray, G. Popli, and G. Fell, “Association of cognition and age-related hearing impairment in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing,” JAMA Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg., 144, No. 10, 876– 882 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2018.1656.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Amieva, C. Ouvrard, C. Giulioli, et al., “Self-reported hearing, loss, hearing aids, and cognitive decline in elderly adults: A 25-year study,” J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 63, No. 10, 2099–2104 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.13649.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Martini, A. Castiglione, R. Bovo, et al., “Aging, cognitive load, dementia and hearing loss,” Audiol. Neurootol., 19, Suppl. 1, 2–5 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1159/000371593.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. R. V. Wayne and I. S. Johnsrude, “A review of causal mechanisms underlying the link between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline,” Ageing Res. Rev., 23, part B, 154–166 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2015.06.002.

  30. U. Lindenberger and P. B. Baltes, “Sensory functioning and intelligence in old age: a strong connection,” Psychol. Aging, 9, No. 3, 339–355 (1994), https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.9.3.339.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. H. Amieva, C. Ouvrard, C. Meillon, et al., “Death, depression, disability, and dementia associated with self-reported hearing problems: A 25-year study,” J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., 73, No. 10, 1383–1389 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. B. Acar, M. F. Yurekli, M. A. Babademez, et al., “Effects of hearing aids on cognitive functions and depressive signs in elderly people,” Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr., 52, No. 3, 250–252 (2011), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2010.04.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. J. H. Clark, J. Yeagle, A. I. Arbaje, et al., “Cochlear implant rehabilitation in older adults: literature review and proposal of a conceptual framework,” J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., 60, No. 10, 1936–1945 (2012), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04150.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. H. Amieva and C. Ouvrard, “Does treating hearing loss in older adults improve cognitive outcomes?” J. Clin. Med., 9, No. 3, 805 (2020), https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9030805.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. O. Zaoeva.

Additional information

Translated from Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S. S. Korsakova, Vol. 121, No. 10, Iss. 2, pp. 37–40, October, 2021.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kunelskaya, N.L., Zaoeva, Z.O., Levina, Y.V. et al. Hearing and Dementia: Is There a Connection?. Neurosci Behav Physi 52, 635–638 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-022-01288-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-022-01288-2

Keyword

Navigation