Research Shows Hearing Aid Use in Adults with Hearing Loss May Lower Dementia Risk

Recent research published in JAMA Neurology highlights a potential link between the use of hearing aids among adults with hearing loss (HL) and a decreased risk of developing dementia. The study, led by Lily Francis, M.B.B.S., from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, involved a long-term prospective analysis of participants from the Framingham Heart Study cohorts. Participants aged 60 years and older, who underwent pure-tone audiometry testing, were followed for up to two decades to monitor for new cases of dementia.

The findings revealed that approximately 20% of the 2,953 participants developed incident all-cause dementia over the follow-up period. Notably, younger participants under 70 years at the time of hearing assessment who used hearing aids showed a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with untreated hearing loss. Specifically, these hearing aid users had a hazard ratio of 0.39, indicating a substantial reduction in risk. Conversely, those with hearing loss but not using hearing aids had a higher hazard ratio. For participants aged 70 and above, the study found no significant association between hearing aid use and dementia risk.

The researchers emphasize the importance of early intervention for hearing loss, suggesting that using hearing aids at an earlier stage could play a role in dementia prevention strategies. This study underscores the potential cognitive benefits of addressing hearing impairments promptly, which could have meaningful implications for public health and aging populations.

For more details, see the original publication: JAMA Neurology, 2025.

source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-adults-loss-aids-dementia.html