Association Between Hearing and Vision Impairment and Risk of Dementia
Hearing and vision loss are highly prevalent in elderly adults and thus frequently occur in conjunction with cognitive impairments. Studies have shown that declines in hearing or vision have been linked to dementia in the past, but combined losses in these two senses are associated with a greater risk of both dementia and Alzheimer's - even if the impairment to both senses is relatively minor.
Aging populations are causing a rapid increase in the number of people affected by age-associated illnesses, such as dementia diseases. Worldwide, more than 47 million people are currently living with dementia, and that number will increase to 75 million by 2030. The worldwide annual cost of dementia is estimated to be $818 billion. Therefore, dementia diseases currently represent, on average, one-third of the total societal cost of elderly care, demonstrating that dementia diseases constitute a healthcare priority. In the absence of a cure, patients need a timely diagnosis and evidence-based treatment and care in order to control complications, delay the progression of dementia, and improve patient-related outcomes.
A recent study showed that people who were either visually or hearing impaired had an 11 percent increased risk of developing dementia overall and a 10 percent greater risk for Alzheimer's disease specifically. However, having both hearing and vision loss puts individuals at a much greater risk for cognitive deterioration. People with combined vision and hearing impairments had an 86 percent increased risk for all-cause dementia and a more than two times increased risk for Alzheimer's dementia. They also concluded something surprisingly specific: age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetes-related eye disease all seem to announce an increased risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.
In many cases, it may be impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of every problem. However, we can tweak our lifestyles and habits to minimize our risks all around. By protecting your vision, you can help contain the cascade of effects that increase your risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Loss of vision or hearing will slowly lower the amount of information we feed the brain. In turn, having less stimulation from vision and hearing leads to brain processes breaking down. After all, the brain often acts like a muscle. If we don’t use our cognitive abilities, we slowly lose them. We become less quick with our reasoning and develop more difficulties with problem-solving.
The first step is as simple as a yearly comprehensive vision and hearing test, especially for those 60 and older. This will help you detect any issue quickly and to address it before it extends. For example, prompt cataract surgery, retinal repairs, and even properly fitted glasses can help you protect your visual acuity and eye health for longer. Also, hearing aids that are accurately tuned will ensure you can hear and interact with your loved ones and surroundings. If you (or a close relative) just got diagnosed with a type of dementia, it’s important to actively try to slow down its progress. Your neurologist, ophthalmologist, and audiologist should work hand-in-hand here to spot any common vision or hearing conditions quickly and in their early stages. Being able to see and hear properly and process what you’re seeing and hearing will ensure your quality of life remains untouched for as long as possible. Many of your Medicare Supplement and Advantage plans have some amount of hearing coverage, so please consider taking advantage of that coverage.
