Listen Up: Treating Hearing Loss to Protect Your Brain
Many of us diligently solve crossword puzzles, use brain-training apps, or read to keep our minds sharp. Those activities are fantastic – they challenge the brain and they’re fun. But did you know that untreated hearing loss can have an even bigger impact on your brain health than brain games?
Hearing loss in mid-life is linked to about 7% of dementia cases globally making it the single largest potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Protecting your hearing isn’t just about your ears – it’s about keeping your brain engaged and resilient as you age. In this article, we’ll explore why healthy hearing matters for your mind and how taking care of your hearing can support lifelong cognitive wellness.
But it's important to remember, this is only one of many modifiable behavioral risk factors for Alzheimer's and dementia.
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The Hidden Connection Between Hearing and Cognition
If you’re surprised that hearing loss could affect your memory or risk of Alzheimer’s, you’re not alone. Hearing impairment doesn’t feel related to thinking ability at first glance. Yet, research has repeatedly found a strong connection. In fact, hearing loss was singled out as “the largest potentially modifiable risk factor” for dementia in the landmark 2024 Lancet Commission report. Why are hearing and brain health so connected? Here are a couple of hypotheses:
One explanation is that when you struggle to hear, your brain has to work harder to decode sounds and speech. This constant strain to fill in the gaps uses up valuable and limited cognitive resources and can come at the expense of other cognitive processes like memory and thinking. The decrease in environmental stimuli resulting from the details you miss because you can’t hear well also means your brain has less input to process and maintains less cognitive reserve - extra capacity to cope with challenges.
Another factor is social: untreated hearing loss often leads people to withdraw from conversations and activities they once enjoyed. This can result in isolation or depression which are also risk factors for dementia. In short, poor hearing can set off a domino effect of reduced mental stimulation and increased loneliness which can accelerate cognitive decline.
There’s also a physiological angle. Some studies suggest that hearing loss might be related to premature brain aging, shrinkage or damage that also affects memory – though the jury is still out on cause and effect.
Regardless of the exact mechanisms, the consensus is clear: hearing health and brain health are intertwined. As Dr. Eric Larson, a member of the Lancet Commission, explained, all our senses feed the brain with information and keeping them intact or correcting them when they become impaired is important for cognitive resilience. Hearing is a big part of how we interact with the world, so it makes sense that losing it can have broad impacts.
Why Mid-Life Hearing Loss Deserves Your Attention
You might be thinking, “Hearing loss is just an older person’s issue, right? I’m too young to worry about that.” It’s true that hearing ability often declines with age – about one-third of adults between 65–74 have hearing loss, and half of those 75+ do. However, the process can start much earlier, in one’s 40s or 50s, often so gradually you barely notice. That’s precisely why mid-life (around age 40–65) is a critical window for hearing health. The Lancet Commission found that hearing loss in mid-life had a sizable impact on dementia risk later. By addressing, or even preventing, hearing issues in those years, you can potentially alter the trajectory of your brain health for the better.
Let’s put the risk in perspective. Hearing loss is more than just asking your partner to repeat themselves; it significantly raises one’s likelihood of cognitive issues. Some research estimates that for every 10 decibels of hearing loss, the risk of dementia increases by 16%. But there is also a huge opportunity here: unlike some risk factors for dementia, hearing loss is often treatable or avoidable. You can’t change your genetics or turn back time, but you can often do something to help yourself hear better.
Taking Action: How to Protect Your Hearing (and Your Mind)
The clear connection between hearing and cognition is a wake up call to treat hearing loss proactively. Here are steps you can take to protect and support both your hearing and your brain:
Protect Your Ears from Noise: Noise-induced hearing damage is cumulative and irreversible – and it can happen at any age. Years of exposure to loud music, power tools, or even consistent high-volume headphone use can lead to hearing loss. So, make a habit of using earplugs or noise-canceling earmuffs in loud environments (for example, when mowing the lawn, at concerts, or in noisy workplaces) and turn down the volume when using earbuds or headphones – a good rule is the 60/60 rule (no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time, before a break). Protecting your hearing now is protecting your brain for the future.
Get Regular Hearing Check-ups: Just as you routinely check your blood pressure and cholesterol after a certain age, it’s wise to get your hearing tested. Many people haven’t had a hearing exam since grade school (if ever). If you’re over 50 or if you notice signs of hearing difficulty – such as needing higher TV volume, struggling to follow conversations in noisy places, or frequently asking others to repeat themselves – consider getting a hearing evaluation from an audiologist. It’s quick, painless, and will establish a baseline for your hearing. Early detection is key; catching hearing loss at an early stage means you can address it before it erodes your quality of life or mental sharpness.
Embrace Hearing Aids or Assistive Devices if Needed: In the past, some people avoided hearing aids due to stigma or misconceptions. You might think “I’m not that old” or “They’ll make me look frail”. But today’s hearing aids are technologically advanced, effective, discreet, and can be life-changing. Importantly, research shows that treating hearing loss with hearing aids works to prevent dementia– individuals with hearing loss who use hearing aids have a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline than those who leave it uncorrected.
Stay Socially Active: One of the saddest consequences of hearing loss is that people sometimes retreat from social interactions. It’s exhausting and embarrassing to constantly ask “What was that?” and isolating to nod along while not knowing what people are saying. Yet staying engaged is exactly what the brain needs. If you’re dealing with hearing loss (even mild), be open with your friends and family about it. Let them know you value conversation and ask them to face you when speaking, get your attention before talking, or choose quieter restaurants for one-on-one conversations instead of large group gatherings. The effort to remain socially connected despite hearing challenges is so worthwhile: social engagement can increase cognitive reserve, is good for your mental health and has been linked to lower dementia risk. Don’t let hearing loss cut you off from the rest of your life.
Treat Hearing Issues Early – Don’t Wait: When hearing loss goes untreated, the brain’s auditory pathways can weaken from disuse. If your ears aren’t sending clear signals, over time your brain can actually “forget” how to interpret certain sounds. Ever met someone who got hearing aids late in life but then struggled to adjust to them? It’s often because their brain had a harder time relearning the sound cues. By intervening early – even with mild hearing loss – you keep those brain pathways active. Plus, you prevent the negative cascade of isolation and cognitive strain we discussed. So if you’re on the fence about addressing a mild hearing loss, remember that acting now can make a big difference in a decade. It’s like fixing a small cavity before you need a root canal.
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The Upside: Better Hearing, Better Living
Addressing hearing loss brings immediate benefits that go beyond possibly reducing dementia risk years from now. People who get hearing aids or successfully protect their hearing often report feeling happier, more energetic, and more confident in social settings. When you treat hearing loss, you’ll likely find you can enjoy things you might have started avoiding – chatting at a group dinner, attending the theater, listening to your favorite music – with renewed ease.
When you can hear better, you catch subtle nuances and jokes, which makes conversations fun again, which then boosts your mood and reduces stress. Lower stress and a positive mood, in turn, are linked with better cognitive function. This improved quality of life has ripple effects: you may be more inclined to go out for that walk with a friend, join a class or volunteer. Improving your hearing can unlock your ability to engage in all the other healthy behaviors that are good for your brain. How’s that for a virtuous cycle?
A Holistic Approach: Hearing is One Piece of the Puzzle
Treating hearing loss is a prime example of an actionable step that can yield significant benefits for your brain, but it’s only one of many steps you can and should take to keep your brain healthy. Think of your brain health like a mosaic – each step you take to protect your brain is a tile that adds to the whole picture. Hearing health is a big tile in that mosaic but it’s only part of the picture. Physical exercise, mental stimulation, social connection, diet, and managing conditions like hypertension or diabetes are also crucial pieces of the puzzle. There is a powerful synergy in this approach because each lifestyle change supports the others. For instance, getting a hearing aid might encourage you to rejoin a social club or exercise class you dropped – now you’re gaining the benefits of social interaction and physical activity too.
Major studies support this multi-factor approach. The landmark FINGER study (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study) and the follow up U.S. POINTER trial conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association, among many others, show that addressing multiple lifestyle factors at once (exercise, diet, brain training, and vascular health) led to improved cognitive function in older adults at risk of dementia.
There’s no one magic bullet for brain health; it’s the combination of healthy habits that truly maximizes your brain’s resilience. Hearing fits into this combination in a crucial way: it enables you to participate fully in life’s activities and amplifies the benefits you get from them. So, while this article shines a spotlight on hearing, it’s only one part of your larger wellness journey.
Tune In to Better Brain Health
Don’t tune out your hearing challenges – tune in to them and take action. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, know that you’re far from alone – about 37 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, and many of them are finding solutions and support. With the help of modern medicine, supportive communities, and your own proactive mindset, you can address this challenge and make a profound difference in your brain’s health.
Hearing loss is a highly modifiable risk factor. Unlike aging or genetics, this is something you can do something about. By protecting your ears, catching hearing issues early, and using prescribed technology to correct hearing loss, you can lower your risk of dementia while also enhancing your day-to-day life. It’s a win-win for quality of life now and later.
If you’ve been diligently doing brain teasers or taking your omega-3 supplements, keep it up – those are good for you. But also remember to put “hearing check” on your brain-health checklist. Treat it as an investment in your future self, the same way you invest in retirement savings or a healthy diet.
So go ahead: schedule that hearing test, try out that hearing aid, turn down the noise when you can, and keep engaging with the world around you. By doing so, you’re sending your brain a clear message – literally and figuratively. You’re saying, “I’m listening, and I care.” And your brain will thank you with sharper thinking, richer memories, and the joy of staying connected to the people and moments that matter most for years to come,
What’s Next?
Hearing health is a vital part of protecting yourself from dementia, but it is only one of the 14 identified modifiable lifestyle risk factors for dementia. Sometimes managing all your risk factors and the lifestyle changes needed to minimize them can feel overwhelming but you don’t have to do this alone. Mindr can help! Many studies, including the U.S. POINTER trial, have shown that coaching support and structured intervention plans give people a statistically significant edge over those who are self-guided.
With Mindr, you will have access to all of these success boosting tools:
Personalized risk reduction plans for your most pressing risk factors
Daily guidance so you know exactly what to do each day
Frequent assessments and tracking so you can see your progress
A human in the loop to support and encourage you
You wouldn’t still be reading this if having a healthy brain wasn’t important to you. The lifestyle changes that will get you there are within your reach. You have the will, we’ll show you the way - one day at a time. You can do this and we can help.
References:
Baker, L. D., Espeland, M. A., Whitmer, R. A., et al. (2025). Structured vs self-guided multidomain lifestyle interventions for global cognitive function: The US POINTER randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 334(8), 681–691. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.12923
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2023). Hearing Aids May Slow Demetria Onset. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/hearing-aids-may-slow-dementia-onset
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2021). Hearing Loss and the Dementia Connection. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2023). New Study Links Hearing Loss with Dementia in Older Adults. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/new-study-links-hearing-loss-with-dementia-in-older-adults
Karawani, H., Jenkins, K., & Anderson, S. (2022). Neural Plasticity Induced by Hearing Aid Use. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 14, 884917. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.884917
Livingston, G.,et al. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0
Mills, Betsy. (2019). Can Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia? Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/can-hearing-aids-help-prevent-dementia
Mills, Betsy. (2023). Can Hearing Aids Preserve Cognitive Function? Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/can-hearing-aids-preserve-cognitive-function
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.) Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (n.d.) Quick Statistics AboutHearing, Balance, & Dizziness. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
Ngandu, Tiia et al. (2015). A 2 year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 385 2255-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60461-5
Raji C. A. (2023). Routine Hearing Assessments in Midlife to Detect Future Dementia. JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery, 149(7), 578–579. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2023.0829
Yu, Ruan-ching et al. (2024). Adult-onset hearing loss and incident cognitive impairment and dementia - A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Ageing Research Review. 98, 102346. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163724001648?via%3Dihub
