Link between hearing loss and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Hearing loss problems may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, warns the German Society of Otolaryngologists. The association stated that hearing loss causes a decline in mental and cognitive performance that plays a role in the deterioration of the patient’s memory.

The warning comes as hearing loss has been linked to several reasons, including age, which sees a decline in hearing begin at the age of 50, infections such as middle ear infections, meningitis, nerve inflammation, narrowing of the auditory canal due to bone growth inside the ear, and now Alzheimer’s disease.

The link between hearing loss and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

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The association reported that hearing loss could also result from serious brain diseases such as stroke, bleeding, or tumors.

To avoid such risks, hearing loss must be treated directly and immediately, preserving the patient’s ability to communicate with others. This, in turn, reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Experts recommend using hearing aids to improve hearing or treating the causes that may have led to its decline, such as medication for infection and inflammation or surgery for a ruptured eardrum. Furthermore, in some cases, the use of cochlear implants is an option to restore impaired hearing.

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It is essential to acknowledge the debilitating effects of hearing loss and the need to counteract it promptly to preserve human communication and cognitive activity.

With this warning from the German Society of Otolaryngologists, people must exercise caution and take measures to mitigate any hearing loss occurrence, such as using ear protection, regular ear check-ups, and maintaining the general well-being of the body.

The correlation between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease heightens the urgency to address the disturbing prevalence of hearing loss worldwide.

The German Society of Otolaryngologists alert serves as a call to action for individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers to tackle the sources and consequences of hearing loss.