Depression and Dementia

Condition

Feeling of depression and withdrawing from others:

Feeling of frustration or embarrassment about not understanding what is being said.
Being mistakenly thought to be confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative.
Research has indicated that hearing loss may impact cognition and dementia risk in older adults.

Clinical Studies

Several studies on dementia in older adults with hearing loss:

More likely to develop dementia than older adults with normal hearing.
Relationship between level of uncorrected hearing loss and level of dementia risk: mild hearing loss was associated with a 2X increase in risk; moderate hearing loss with a 3X increase in risk, and severe hearing loss with a 5X increase in risk.
Cognitive abilities (including memory and concentration) declined faster in older adults with hearing loss, as compared to older adults with normal hearing.
Ongoing studies to better understand relationship between age-related hearing loss and cognition and dementia.

Prevention

Hearing loss is considered a modifiable risk factor for dementia.
Hearing protection, screening, and use of hearing aids encouraged as strategies to mitigate this potential risk factor.