HQ Team
October 22, 2024: Hearing aids have emerged as a potentially significant factor in delaying the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease amid growing evidence linking hearing loss with neurodegenerative conditions.
Research indicates that individuals with hearing impairment are at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, with the severity of hearing loss correlating with an increased incidence of the condition. A major study involving over 3.6 million U.S. military veterans found that timely intervention with hearing aids could significantly reduce this risk.
The research team was led by neurologist Lee Neilsen at Oregon Health and Science University and the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System. Over an average of 7.6 years of follow-up spanning two decades, hearing loss was tied to incident Parkinson’s in a dose-dependent manner, after adjusting for risks of death, age, head trauma, frailty, and established prodromal disorders.
Ten years after a baseline audiogram, hearing loss of any severity was associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease compared with normal hearing (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.2-1.32, P<0.001), the team wrote in their study published in JAMA Neurology.
Specifically, the severity and duration of hearing loss correlated with an increased likelihood of diagnosis. In contrast, timely provision of hearing aids appears to mitigate this risk; those who received hearing aids shortly after their hearing loss was identified showed a notable decrease in the incidence of Parkinson’s disease by 21.6 cases per 10 years
Hearing loss and Parkinson’s link
The association between hearing loss and Parkinson’s is particularly concerning given the projected increase in hearing impairment as the global population ages. Currently, over 466 million people worldwide are affected by hearing loss, which is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cognitive decline and social isolation.
The risk of dementia is notably heightened among individuals with untreated hearing loss, which is twice as likely for those with mild impairment and increases significantly with the severity of the loss.
The notion that improving auditory function through hearing aids could provide not only auditory benefits but also cognitive protections has sparked interest in the potential of these devices as a preventative measure against Parkinson’s disease.
While the evidence linking hearing loss to an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s is compelling, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Some studies suggest that both conditions may be part of a broader decline in sensory processing associated with aging, emphasizing the need for further research to elaborate on these connections. Controversies persist regarding the extent of the causal relationship, as some analyses, such as Mendelian randomization studies, have not established direct causality. underscoring the complexity of the issue.
Hearing aids usage
Conventional hearing aids are the primary treatment for hearing loss, yet their usage remains low, with fewer than 20% of individuals with hearing impairment utilizing them. In light of these findings, experts advocate for integrating hearing screenings into primary care practices and promoting hearing aid usage, particularly for older adults.
