GP urges public to make one urgent change right now to ward off dementia in your 60s
While research suggests up to four in ten cases of the memory-robbing condition may be preventable through lifestyle changes, hearing loss remains one of the most overlooked risk factors.
In a video shared with his 360,000 Instagram followers, NHS GP Dr Amir Khan said: 'Hearing loss isn't just an ageing thing—it's a brain health thing too.'
Dementia affects around 982,000 people in the UK. Studies show that those with untreated hearing problems may be up to five times more likely to develop the condition.
ITV Lorraine and Good Morning Britain regular Dr Khan said one possible explanation is the concept of 'cognitive load'—where the brain has to work harder to process sound, drawing resources away from other vital functions such as memory.
'When you can't hear well, your brain works overtime to decode sounds and speech,' he said.
'That extra effort pulls energy away from memory and thinking. The brain is too busy trying to hear to actually remember.'
Dr Khan compared this to how apps running in the background on a phone can slow down the device and drain its battery.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dr Amir Khan GP (@doctoramirkhan)
Hearing loss can also trigger brain shrinkage, Dr Khan said—another reason the condition increases the risk of dementia.
MRI scans show that people with hearing loss may experience faster brain atrophy—the loss of neurons and pathways in the brain—especially in areas involved in memory and language.
'Use it or lose it,' he urged his followers. 'When the ears go quiet, the brain starts to fade too.'
Social isolation is also know to contribute to the development of the memory robbing disease.
'Hearing loss often leads to withdrawal from conversation and social life and that's a huge dementia risk,' Dr Khan said.
'Loneliness and lack of mental stimulation are like fuel for cognitive decline. If you're not connecting, you're not protecting your brain,' he warned.
'Get your hearing tested and use hearing aids if needed and stay socially and mentally active.
'Looking after your hearing is looking after your future brain.'
Dr Khan's warning comes as new research suggests that tackling hearing loss early could delay the onset of dementia by several years.
A major US study, which tracked nearly 3,000 older adults with hearing impairment, found that almost a third of dementia cases could be linked to hearing loss alone.
Published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology, the research showed that those with mild hearing loss faced a 16.2 per cent risk of developing dementia — with women slightly more at risk than men.
Experts said the findings offer further evidence of a strong link between hearing and brain health, and called on health leaders to prioritise screening for those most vulnerable.
Dr Isolde Radford, at Alzheimer's Research UK, welcomed the findings. While not involved in the study, she said: 'Hearing loss, like dementia, isn't an inevitable part of ageing.
'That's why we're calling on the government to include a hearing check in the NHS Health Check for over-40s.
'This simple step could help millions identify hearing loss earlier and take appropriate action, such as wearing hearing aids, that may help reduce their risk of dementia.'
Last year, a landmark study suggested almost half of Alzheimer's cases—the most common form of dementia—could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors.
These include exercising more regularly, quitting smoking and losing weight.
Other modifiable risk factors include untreated depression, poor vision and physical inactivity.
To reduce life-long dementia risk, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and the government.
Researchers have since urged the government to make hearing aids available for all those with hearing loss, reducing harmful noise exposure and warding off dementia.
Experts claimed the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented.
Dementia is a general term for memory loss, language difficulties, issues with problem solving and other thinking abilities that interfere with daily life.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of the disease—accounting for up to 80 per cent of cases—followed by vascular dementia which occurs due to microscopic bleeding in the brain.
Alzheimer's is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly.
Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop.
Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Patients would rather see a GP than pharmacists and nurses, study finds
A study found that people often like to see a GP and still prefer in-person appointments, considering them the 'gold standard'. The review of 33 existing studies, from the University of Southampton, also found patients often like to choose a specific doctor to maintain continuity of care. Trust and confidence decreased when patients wanted to see a GP but were directed to a nurse or other health worker instead, it added. The study noted people also wanted easier ways to book GP appointments, clearer phone options, shorter recorded messages, and simple online routes with quick responses. It comes after the Government published its 10-year health plan which intends to massively increase use of the NHS App, as well as recruit more GPs. An improved app will give patients more control over booking, moving and cancelling appointments, as well as quicker access to medics and other forms of care. The new study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, suggested confidence and trust scores appeared to be lower when people wanted a face-to-face appointment and received a call instead. The public also wanted clear details on the roles of different NHS workers, it found. Lead author Helen Atherton, professor of primary care research, said: 'Patients want a deeper connection with their doctor's practice, better communication, and the choice to see the right professional in the best way for them. 'The NHS needs to better understand what people want so it can shape its services to work for patients. 'Ignoring these fundamental needs will only exacerbate the issues it currently faces.' Writing in the journal, Prof Atherton and colleagues added: 'Patients wanted a nearby practice, with clean waiting rooms, easy appointment booking using simple systems and with short waiting times, and to be kept informed about the process.' In particular, researchers found that, for medication reviews and long-term conditions, patients preferred seeing someone they were familiar with. The research also suggested that, where a patient's condition was worsening, 69.5% of patients reported preferring to consult a GP than a pharmacist and 42.7% strongly agreed or agreed that they would prefer to consult with a GP rather than a pharmacist. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It's really encouraging to see how much patients value the care, and continuity of care, their GP provides – there are some things that only a GP can do for their patients, but it's also important that patients don't feel somehow short-changed if they're offered an appointment with another member of our highly-skilled multi-disciplinary team. 'Not all patients need to see a GP. Procedures such as blood tests, routine management of non-complex long-term conditions, the monitoring of repeat prescriptions, or assessment of a painful joint, for example, can be carried out by some of the various other members of the team who now work in general practice, such as nursing staff, mental health professionals, clinical pharmacists and physiotherapists. 'This also alleviates workload on GPs, allowing us to spend time with those patients with complex health needs who really do need our expert medical attention. 'However, we know that even when working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, patients often struggle to access their GP when they need to – and we share their frustrations. 'This is due to decades of under-funding of general practice and poor workforce planning, which has meant patient need for our care has escalated in recent years, while GP numbers have sadly not risen in step. 'We need thousands more GPs, and the recently published 10-Year health plan commits to providing these. 'We're now looking ahead to the revised long-term workforce plan, due later this year, to see how the Government plans to recruit more GPs and keep more GPs in the profession for longer – but also address some of the nonsensical issues GPs are reporting that they can't find appropriate employment upon qualification.' Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'It's not surprising that people want to see a GP when they go to a GP surgery but all our research and experience shows that people are very happy to visit a pharmacy if they can access treatment or advice quickly without having to wait to see a GP. 'Pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals who offer first-class care for a range of ailments quickly and conveniently and will send patients to a GP or hospital if needs be. 'Increasingly people will be able to pop into a community pharmacy and see a highly qualitied pharmacist for things like screening, check-ups, HRT, weight management or ongoing care without lengthy waits, freeing their NHS colleagues in hospitals and GPs to do more and offering patients the choice and convenience we all want to see.' Royal College of Nursing chief nursing officer, Lynn Woolsey, said: 'Nursing staff are an integral part of any general practice delivering a range of services to patients. 'They lead public health clinics, run screening and vaccination programmes, support patients in the management of chronic disease and can diagnose and prescribe.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
DR MAX PEMBERTON: Why we can't expect Kate to get back to 'normal' any time soon
It doesn't matter how much money you have, how famous you are, how luxurious your life appears to be, being diagnosed with cancer is never easy. It affects every aspect of your life, not just your health. Thankfully, more of us are surviving what was once a dire prognosis, however recovery time does take much longer than people anticipate. And it's not always an easy ride.
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Patients would rather see a GP than pharmacists and nurses, study finds
A study found that people often like to see a GP and still prefer in-person appointments, considering them the 'gold standard'. The review of 33 existing studies, from the University of Southampton, also found patients often like to choose a specific doctor to maintain continuity of care. Trust and confidence decreased when patients wanted to see a GP but were directed to a nurse or other health worker instead, it added. The study noted people also wanted easier ways to book GP appointments, clearer phone options, shorter recorded messages, and simple online routes with quick responses. It comes after the Government published its 10-year health plan which intends to massively increase use of the NHS App, as well as recruit more GPs. An improved app will give patients more control over booking, moving and cancelling appointments, as well as quicker access to medics and other forms of care. The new study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, suggested confidence and trust scores appeared to be lower when people wanted a face-to-face appointment and received a call instead. The public also wanted clear details on the roles of different NHS workers, it found. Lead author Helen Atherton, professor of primary care research, said: 'Patients want a deeper connection with their doctor's practice, better communication, and the choice to see the right professional in the best way for them. 'The NHS needs to better understand what people want so it can shape its services to work for patients. 'Ignoring these fundamental needs will only exacerbate the issues it currently faces.' Writing in the journal, Prof Atherton and colleagues added: 'Patients wanted a nearby practice, with clean waiting rooms, easy appointment booking using simple systems and with short waiting times, and to be kept informed about the process.' In particular, researchers found that, for medication reviews and long-term conditions, patients preferred seeing someone they were familiar with. The research also suggested that, where a patient's condition was worsening, 69.5% of patients reported preferring to consult a GP than a pharmacist and 42.7% strongly agreed or agreed that they would prefer to consult with a GP rather than a pharmacist. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It's really encouraging to see how much patients value the care, and continuity of care, their GP provides – there are some things that only a GP can do for their patients, but it's also important that patients don't feel somehow short-changed if they're offered an appointment with another member of our highly-skilled multi-disciplinary team. 'Not all patients need to see a GP. Procedures such as blood tests, routine management of non-complex long-term conditions, the monitoring of repeat prescriptions, or assessment of a painful joint, for example, can be carried out by some of the various other members of the team who now work in general practice, such as nursing staff, mental health professionals, clinical pharmacists and physiotherapists. 'This also alleviates workload on GPs, allowing us to spend time with those patients with complex health needs who really do need our expert medical attention. 'However, we know that even when working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, patients often struggle to access their GP when they need to – and we share their frustrations. 'This is due to decades of under-funding of general practice and poor workforce planning, which has meant patient need for our care has escalated in recent years, while GP numbers have sadly not risen in step. 'We need thousands more GPs, and the recently published 10-Year health plan commits to providing these. 'We're now looking ahead to the revised long-term workforce plan, due later this year, to see how the Government plans to recruit more GPs and keep more GPs in the profession for longer – but also address some of the nonsensical issues GPs are reporting that they can't find appropriate employment upon qualification.' Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'It's not surprising that people want to see a GP when they go to a GP surgery but all our research and experience shows that people are very happy to visit a pharmacy if they can access treatment or advice quickly without having to wait to see a GP. 'Pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals who offer first-class care for a range of ailments quickly and conveniently and will send patients to a GP or hospital if needs be. 'Increasingly people will be able to pop into a community pharmacy and see a highly qualitied pharmacist for things like screening, check-ups, HRT, weight management or ongoing care without lengthy waits, freeing their NHS colleagues in hospitals and GPs to do more and offering patients the choice and convenience we all want to see.' Royal College of Nursing chief nursing officer, Lynn Woolsey, said: 'Nursing staff are an integral part of any general practice delivering a range of services to patients. 'They lead public health clinics, run screening and vaccination programmes, support patients in the management of chronic disease and can diagnose and prescribe.'
