Aussie study finds hearing aids improve brain function and delay cognitive decline

A recent study by the University of Melbourne has found that more frequent use of hearing aids was associated with greater improvements in cognitive function, with its women participants much more diligent at wearing the devices than men. Hearing loss affects 32% of people aged 55, and more than 70% of people aged over 70 – it is indeed a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.

The study involved almost 100 adults, aged 62-82 years with hearing loss, who were fitted with hearing aids and assessed on speech perception, sound, cognitive function, and mood, among others. At the end of the study, 97.3% of participants reported either clinically significant improvement or stability in executive function i.e. their mental ability to plan, organise information and initiate tasks.Women, in particular, showed significant improvements in working memory as well as most other cognitive functions assessed, implying better reasoning and decision-making after being fitted with hearing aids.

“Although there are successful treatments for hearing loss, there is currently no such treatment for cognitive decline or dementia,” Associate Professor Julia Sarant said;”This research is a positive step in investigating the treatment of hearing aids to delay cognitive decline.”

While improvement in cognitive function is not usually seen in older adults, Sarant adds that further research is nevertheless underway to study “cognitive outcomes from a larger sample size with those of a healthy aging comparison group of older Australians with typical hearing for their age.”

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