4 Things to Know About Hearing Loss & Dementia
Did you know that of the 9 lifestyle factors that could help prevent dementia, managing hearing loss during midlife is one of them? That's right! According to The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, dementia cases worldwide are expected to triple from 50 million to 150 million by the year 2050. The commission provided recommendations for prevention and management of dementia and concluded that 1 in 3 cases of dementia could be prevented if individuals managed 9 lifestyle factors. Managing hearing (including the use of properly fit hearing aids) at any age is important, but they specifically noted that managing hearing during midlife, between age 40-65, is of great importance. Our knowledge of a connection between hearing loss and dementia has continued to increase seven years after an original study was published in 2011 by John Hopkins University, which indicated the probability of developing dementia increases as hearing declines. Here are some things we kn