Hearing deteriorates considerably with age. According to Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), deafness affects 65% of people over 65 years old. However, the idea of wearing a prosthesis seems to put off more than one. A new study, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, might well help us to take the plunge. According to scientists at the University of Singapore, wearing a hearing aid may reduce the risk of dementia.
To carry out their study, the researchers investigated the link between hearing loss, wearing a device and cognitive decline. For this, they peeled no less than 3,243 studies, both observational and trials, conducted on more than 137,484 participants for a period ranging from two to twenty-five years. Results, people who wore a hearing aid were 19% less likely to suffer from cognitive decline in the long term and 3% in the short term. “Dementia is much easier to prevent than to treat, and extremely difficult to reverse,” said Dr. Benjamin Tan, lead author of the study and dean of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. Hearing loss is therefore a cognitive risk factor that should not be overlooked. It is therefore important to consult a doctor at the first signs of hearing loss.
This is not the first time that scientists are interested in the relevance of these small devices. (…)
