Does hearing loss increase the risk of dementia?
It is said that hearing loss begins as early as the 40s.
However, it is difficult to realize it in daily life, and there are many people who do not have the opportunity to check it because they believe that it is a problem only in old age.
Dr. Seiichi Nitta (Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital), who is familiar with hearing loss, said, "Everyone becomes deaf as they get older. However, if you leave it as it is, saying, 'It can't be helped because it's old,' it invites unexpected risks," he warns.
Furthermore, "To recognize sounds and understand information, we use a wide area of the brain. When the brain is no longer used due to hearing loss, the part of the brain that controls sound information, the temporal lobe, also deteriorates. Communication will also decrease, and it is thought that brain function will gradually decline widely."
Recent research has revealed that hearing loss is associated with dementia.
At the International Alzheimer's Disease Conference 2017, the Lancet International Commission announced that "approximately 35% of dementia cases are attributable to nine potentially modifiable risk factors," with hearing loss being one of them. (Congenital deafness and unilateral deafness are not limited to this).
"Many effects of hearing loss, such as depression, social isolation, and decreased driving ability, have been reported. It is hoped that early measures against hearing loss will lead to the prevention of dementia." ” said Professor Nitta.
Age-related hearing loss, like presbyopia, cannot be cured at present, but Dr. Nitta listed two main ways to prevent it.
Of course, prevention is better than no prevention, but the progression of age-related hearing loss cannot be stopped. Anyone can become one if they live long enough. “The most recommended measure to prevent dementia is to use hearing aids without neglecting hearing loss. We believe that wearing hearing aids correctly can prevent deterioration of the brain and prevent dementia. ” commented Mr. Nitta.
Mr. Seiichi Nitta Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Director of the Hearing Center. He is an audiologist. Graduated from Keio University School of Medicine in 1994. From 2004, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology. Clinical study abroad in Belgium for 10 years. A specialist in the Japanese Society of Otolaryngology. His publications include "90% of hearing loss and tinnitus are cured - Hearing aid rehabilitation that trains the brain to improve hearing" and "90% of tinnitus is cured - If the brain's excitement is suppressed, the sound will stop" (Makino Publishing).
About 70% don't know the relationship between hearing and dementia
GN Hearing Japan, in collaboration with the Danish head office, checks hearing by clicking illustrations and numbers according to the voice, and detects hearing loss. A free online tool called "Kikoe no Check" has been developed and released free of charge to facilitate early diagnosis.
In addition, in September 2019, we conducted an awareness survey on hearing, including the online tool “Hearing Check,” targeting 200 men and women in their 40s and 50s who “think that their hearing has not deteriorated yet.” carried out.
As a result of the survey, 8% of those who received the online app's "Hearing Check" thought that "ear aging may have started". In addition, it was found that 9% of people feel that "when several people are having a conversation, sometimes I can't keep up with the conversation because I can't hear you." In other words, it can be said that about 10% of people in their 40s and 50s are starting to decline.
Furthermore, in the survey, when we asked which part of the body we don't want aging to progress in the future, the top answer was "brain", with skin and eyes suppressed. When asked, "Do you know that hearing loss increases the risk of dementia?", about 70% of respondents did not know.
From this, it can be seen that "hearing loss is one of the risks of dementia" is still not recognized.
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