Hearing aids reduce cognitive decline by 50%

What's the news: Using a hearing aid can cut cognitive decline, a risk factor for dementia, by half.

Why should we believe it? This news comes from a big new study, published last week by scientists at Johns Hopkins University.

The scientists looked at population of 977 men and women, average age 77. They gave half the subjects "hearing interventions" — a consultation with an audiologist and a hearing aid. The scientists also divided the subjects into groups based on risk of cognitive decline. Result:

• At the end of three years, there was no reduction in cognitive decline in the subject group as a whole

• There was a 50% lower rate of cognitive decline in the 238 people who were at highest risk for cognitive decline

Why this is a big deal: Previous studies, including one from this year that I wrote up in Long Youthspan, have found a correlation between hearing loss and dementia, and a correlation between hearing aids and reduced risk of dementia. The present study adds to that in a big way — by showing that hearing aids significantly reduces cognitive decline, a known risk factor for dementia.

So what can you do now: Two-thirds of Americans over age 70 suffer from hearing loss. If you're getting near that age — or if you can't hear me well as I type this — it's time to get your hearing tested.

And if you have hearing loss: Get a hearing aid. It will improve your quality of life — and might save you from dementia. Besides, it's become entirely socially acceptable now that everyone else walks around with various gadgets in their ears.