A new study shows that early use of auditory aids can significantly reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly, if they begin to use them before 70, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in case of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a known risk factor for dementia, but an early intervention could reduce this risk, researchers suggest.
The authors of the study performed hearing tests at almost 3,000 volunteers without dementia, which were at least 60 years old.
In the next 20 years, the researchers observed a 61% lower risk of dementia among those with a recently diagnosed hearing loss that have started to wear hearing aids before the age of 70, compared to participants diagnosed with hearing issues at a similar age, but who did not use auditory aids, they reported in an article JAMA Neurology.
The use of auditory aids did not seem to protect against dementia in people diagnosed with a hearing problem after the age of 70.
“Only 17% of people with moderate to severe auditory loss use auditory aids. Our study emphasizes the importance of early intervention to reduce the risk of dementia associated with hearing loss,” the researchers concluded.
