Overview

• An observational analysis in JAMA Neurology tracking people for up to two decades found that adults who reported hearing loss in their 60s and used hearing aids had a 61% lower incidence of all-cause dementia than peers who did not use them.
• The study did not find a similar protective association for participants first reporting hearing loss after age 70, emphasizing the importance of earlier intervention.
• Researchers reported persistently low uptake, estimating that only 17% of people with moderate to severe hearing loss use hearing aids.
• Singapore data point to adherence challenges, with about 89% of seniors prescribed devices through a national screening program not taking them up, often due to cost, discomfort, tuning needs, or unrealistic expectations.
• Context from recent research suggests hearing loss may contribute to a larger share of dementia cases than previously thought, strengthening calls for accessible screening, counseling, fitting services, and financial support.