From the University of Melbourne press release:<\/p>\n
\nWearing hearing aids may delay cognitive decline in older adults and improve brain function<\/strong>, according to promising new research.<\/p>\n
\nCognitive decline is associated with hearing loss<\/strong>, which affects about 32 per cent of people aged 55 years, and more than 70 per cent of people aged over 70 years. Hearing loss has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for dementia.<\/p>\n
University of Melbourne researchers have tested the use of hearing aids in almost 100 adults aged 62-82 years with hearing loss.<\/p>\n
Participants were assessed before and 18 months after having hearing aids fitted on their hearing, cognitive function, speech perception, quality of life, physical activity, loneliness, mood and medical health.<\/p>\n
After 18 months of hearing aid use, researchers found speech perception, self-reported listening disability and quality of life had significantly improved for participants.<\/p>\n
Most notably, 97.3 per cent of participants in this study showed either clinically significant improvement or stability in executive function<\/strong> — their mental ability to plan, organise information and initiate tasks.<\/p>\n
Women, in particular, showed significant improvements in working memory — used for reasoning and decision-making — as well as most other cognitive functions assessed.<\/p>\n
The study also found more frequent use of hearing aids was associated with greater improvements in cognitive function, and women were much more diligent at wearing the devices than men.<\/p>\n
University of Melbourne Associate Professor and Chief Investigator of the study, Julia Sarant, said improvement in cognitive function is something that is not usually seen in older adults.<\/p>\n
“Although there are successful treatments for hearing loss, there is currently no successful treatment for cognitive decline or dementia,” Associate Professor Sarant said.<\/p>\n
“This research is a positive step in investigating the treatment of hearing aids to delay cognitive decline.<\/p>\n
“Further research is underway to compare cognitive outcomes from a larger sample size with those of a healthy aging comparison group of older Australians with typical hearing for their age.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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