The little known warning sign that could mean you are MORE at risk of developing dementia
Dr. Kaete Archer - an ear, nose and throat doctor - revealed that experiencing middle-aged hearing loss could put you at a higher risk of developing the disease in comparison to those with healthy hearing.
'New research has shown that even early, mild hearing loss is a significant risk factor for dementia,' she explained in a recent video posted to TikTok.
The expert then explained that untreated midlife hearing loss is responsible for seven percent of cases of Alzheimer's dementia globally.
'What if the first sign of cognitive decline wasn't memory loss, but rather trouble hearing?' the doctor questioned.
She continued, saying hearing loss in middle aged people (between 40 to 60 years old) is often overlooked, but warned that anyone who experiences this should be extra careful.
Archer detailed how hearing loss and dementia are related, explaining the brain is constantly receiving inputs from the world and, as our hearing declines, people's ability to process and receive those sensory inputs also declines.
'In response, our ability to interact back with the world declines and this has a significant negative impact and consequence on our brain and health function,' she said.
The doctor quipped: 'It's not very sexy to tell someone they need a hearing aid, but what is very sexy is doing everything in your power to protect your brain health.'
She urged anyone that is concerned about their hearing to make an appointment with an audiologist or ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor).
Researchers estimated that 42 percent of Americans over age 55 will eventually develop dementia, as per the National Institute of Health.
Shruthi Raghavendra, an audio research scientist at Harman International, told the Daily Mail that hearing loss is often overlooked as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, but growing research highlights its role in accelerating cognitive decline, social isolation, and neural atrophy.
'People with dementia may struggle to process auditory information, which can appear similar to hearing loss,' she explained.
She added: 'Conversely, hearing loss can mimic or accelerate cognitive decline, making it harder to diagnose dementia accurately.'
She explained there are three main mechanisms of the scientific link between hearing loss and dementia.
The first was cognitive load theory, meaning the brain works harder to decode degraded auditory input from the ears.
'This "listening effort" diverts cognitive resources from memory, reasoning, or attention,' she explained. 'Over time, this constant strain may increase vulnerability to cognitive decline.'
'The second is auditory deprivation, as hearing loss reduces input to the auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes audio,' Raghavendra said.
She explained the lack of stimulation can lead to atrophy in brain regions, including those involved in speech processing and memory (e.g. temporal lobes, hippocampus).
The third was social isolation, as hearing loss can lead to withdrawal from conversations and social activities, which she branded as a 'strong, independent risk factor for dementia.'
Scientists have pinpointed subtle, telltale signs of the memory-robbing disease that can occur up to twenty years before the onslaught of classic symptoms strike.
Problems with spatial awareness, like difficulty reading the sat nav or standing too close to other people, are thought to be the first signs of a future dementia diagnosis.
Experts say these troubles often begin prior to the telltale brain damage appearing on scans.
That's because, according to researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, the disease develops in two distinct phases, known as 'epochs.'
The first so-called 'stealth' phase, which can begin decades before symptoms become obvious, involves damage to just a few vulnerable cells in the brain.
And this typically happens in the part of the brain that's important for spatial navigation, Professor Michael Hornberger, dementia expert from the University of East Anglia, explained in a new report about the US research.
The second phase, sees a build up of the proteins tau and amyloid in the brain. Whilst most aging brains will have some level of both these proteins, a significant clump of them can for plaques and tangle — and this is thought to be behind dementia symptoms.
This is when telltale signs of cognitive collapse that we commonly associate with dementia — including memory loss, language difficulties and problems with thinking and reasoning — appear.
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