Brain & Life

Hearing Aids May Lower the Risk of Cognitive Decline

Experts say hearing aids may lower the risk of cognitive decline. While being hard of hearing in and of itself does not lead to trouble with cognition, left untreated it can trigger behavior that may have a negative impact on cognitive health. A study published in the January 2023 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggested the risk of dementia was 28% higher among older adults who were socially isolated.

"Hearing loss often results in reduced social interaction, less verbal stimulation and communication, loneliness, and depression," said Terry D. Fife, MD, a University of Arizona professor of neurology and a neuro-otologist affiliate in the College of Medicine – Phoenix. "In people who are already experiencing cognitive decline, the effects of social isolation may accelerate that."

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Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to optimize health and health care in Arizona and beyond. By cultivating collaborative research locally and globally, the college accelerates discovery in a number of critical areas — including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cardiovascular disease. Championed as a student-centric campus, the college has graduated more than 800 physicians, all of whom received exceptional training from nine clinical partners and more than 2,700 diverse faculty members. As the anchor to the Phoenix Bioscience Core, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.1 billion by 2025, the college prides itself on engaging with the community, fostering education, inclusion, access and advocacy.