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Hearing Loss a Predictor of Dementia

Semanon

Semanon

Super Member
The Guardian had an article where they discussed four things that one could do to help stave off dementia. They noted that one of the leading cause was hearing loss. This lead to isolation which was a precursor.

They said, “Which single intervention could reduce dementia risk the most? The answer is one that even some researchers find surprising: preventing hearing loss. Globally, hearing impairment is believed to account for about 8% of dementia.”

Interesting for some of the elders in this crowd and those younger who might be able to avoid this.
 
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Semanon said:
The Guardian had an article where they discussed four things that one could do to help stave off dementia. They noted that one of the leading cause was hearing loss. This lead to isolation which was a precursor.

They said, “Which single intervention could reduce dementia risk the most? The answer is one that even some researchers find surprising: preventing hearing loss. Globally, hearing impairment is believed to account for about 8% of dementia.”

Interesting for some of the elders in this crowd and those younger who might be able to avoid this.
Click to expand...

Sometimes it's wise to go to the source study and read what was actually said and who said it ..
I've become forever leery of journalistic interpretation of all things related to science ..

Given an understanding of the impaired nerve function that causes dementia it's pretty plausible that hearing loss could be a result but causation would be seriously doubtful ...
The neuronal plaques and tangles that are always present in dementia build up over time ..
 
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Did a short look-see on the affect of hearing loss and dementia...and was both surprized and found interesting to see the relationship between the two concepts, and the large number of the afflicted.

There does seem to be an increasing belief that the hearing loss may be a critical factor in brain impairment.

The established cognitive researchers think that the hearing loss may cause undue strain on the brain causing gaps.
Reluctance to socialize decreasing stimulation for thought creation
Neuron damage due to lack of use
And several other related implications still being studied.

You have to keep in mind that "dementia" is an all inclusive/overall term to describe the various mental problems that are caused by different factors, some perhaps psychologically caused. Alzheimer's being the leading mental disease of 60-70% of all reported dementia, and this is a guess at best.


Q
 
MuseChaser said:
Can you please stop mumbling and speak up? .. And... I ALWAYS park my dog and let it idle before waxing it during the first weak of Septemberry.
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Glad somewhere is sloping up. :)

To the OPs point tho, it makes sense that decreased mental stimulation would affect mental health.
One possible conclusion is that TV is the primary cause of mental impairment.

FWIW, I recently got HAs to assist w high frequency hearing loss.
It does make a world of difference & when I take them out it like listening to everything thru a pillow.
 
Bob in WI said:
Glad somewhere is sloping up. :)

To the OPs point tho, it makes sense that decreased mental stimulation would affect mental health.
One possible conclusion is that TV is the primary cause of mental impairment.

FWIW, I recently got HAs to assist w high frequency hearing loss.
It does make a world of difference & when I take them out it like listening to everything thru a pillow.
Click to expand...
Distant and muffled.
Disagree on TV if the program is engaging the viewer with stimulating interaction.
 
Lol, those kids at the club last night are all going to be drooling idiots before long then! New band playing punkish junk with amplifed drum set in a space maybe 40x50 and the kids were all crowding around withing touching distance (not me, I was on the pattio!) and the likelyhood listening to that din for more than a minute or two DOESN'T wreck their ears is zero!

I'll be taking a good set of earplugs if I go back, not my usual haunt but a friend wanted to go.

As far as hearing loss and dementia being linked, I'd suspect it's the other way around -- hearing loss can be a sign of brain dis-function as easily as it can be damage to the receptor system in the ears after all, and many forms of dementia start showing up a lot earlier than most people think they do.
 
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I can certainly identify with the social isolation issue. I wear two hearing aids which only partially make up for a significant high frequency hearing loss. Even with the aids, I'm missing out on much of the world.
And that leads to the isolation. Unless the person or source is in front of me speaking, I often can't hear enough detail to tell what is being said... I just know that someone/something is speaking but can't make out what is being said. And rather than ask for a repeat over and over, I just withdraw.
Music is so important to me, especially instrumental music... cause it's very difficult to understand lyrics. Thank goodness for lots of instrumental music!!
'Cuse me while I kiss this guy
There's a bathroom on the right
All I want to do is have some fun until the sun comes up we'll be visitin' a couple o' bars

My heart goes out to all of you with this issue.
 
Just an example most people would know about, not political at all. Several of us think one of our low level management team at work is in the same condition, seems to forget what he's doing far more often than he should at 58.

Hearing loss is no joke, and neither is any form of dementia.
 
I've seen Alzheimer's and other dementia's up close and personal, both of my in-laws suffered from it and one passed last year. As a pharmacist, I've seen more than my share and different types of these degenerative disorders. They are horrible diseases that rob a person of their dignity.

Everybody's life will be impacted in one way or another. We will all know someone who suffers at sometime in our lifetime. Learn to recognize it and be patient and respectful. That's all you can do.

Everybody "slows up"... That's normal. Children run circles around even the best of us. This is of course obvious yet so many people have "Alzheimer's paranoia" when something slips their mind. They think "I've got it too, I'm next".

The problem is when a person doesn't realize there's a problem.

It's more than memory and recognition. It creates fear, terror and confusion. Forgetting how to swallow...the most basic function necessary for life fades away. The brain "devolves".

Keeping busy and exercise helps keep you sharp, but it won't change the onset or progression of the disease. Lack of stimulation as our senses decline may create isolation but it's no predictor.

Beethoven began to lose his hearing in his 20's.
That didn't seem to stop him. He adapted and
favored lower and middle range notes.
 
I respect where you're coming from, no need for me to piss gas on any fires burning in anyone's camp.


 
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