Overview

• The JAMA Neurology study analyzed 2,953 Framingham participants aged 60 or older and tracked them for up to 20 years, during which 583 developed dementia.
• Among participants who reported hearing loss in their 60s, hearing-aid users had a 61% lower incidence of all-cause dementia than nonusers, while no protective association was seen when use began after age 70.
• Participants in their 60s with normal hearing showed a 29% lower risk than peers with untreated loss, reinforcing the value of addressing hearing problems early.
• Despite potential benefits, use remains limited, with only 17% of those with moderate to severe loss using aids, roughly one in seven U.S. adults over 50 using the devices, and high non‑take‑up reported in Singapore programs.
• Researchers and clinicians cite reduced cognitive load and better social engagement as possible pathways, note that the evidence is observational, and call for earlier screening, proper fitting, post‑fitting support and improved access including OTC options.