Overview

• Researchers examined 2,953 dementia‑free adults aged 60 and older from the Framingham Heart Study who were tested between 1977 and 1998 and followed for up to two decades, during which 583 developed dementia.
• In a subgroup of 245 participants who first reported hearing loss in their 60s, those who used hearing aids had a 61% lower incidence of all‑cause dementia compared with nonusers, an association not observed when hearing aids were first used after age 70.
• The authors describe the findings as observational, aligning with prior randomized and meta‑analytic evidence that treating hearing loss can slow cognitive decline.
• Use of hearing aids remains limited, with the study noting about 17% uptake among people with moderate to severe loss and separate estimates showing roughly one in seven Americans over 50 uses a device.
• Proposed pathways include reducing cognitive strain and social isolation, and expanded over‑the‑counter access since 2022 could help improve adoption.