26/09/2025
Hearing Officer
In this article, I thought I would look into the suspected link between dementia and hearing loss and any research that is being done in this area.
I came across some research that is currently being funded by The Alzheimer's Society and RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) that is exploring the understanding of the link between hearing loss and dementia. It is believed that there is a link between these two conditions although there, as yet, is no definitive proof. What is known though is that people with hearing loss are more at risk of developing dementia but what is not known is why.
This research aims to identify whether or not deafness and dementia have similar, if not, the same “disease causing mechanisms” which impact and change the cognitive ability. The researchers intend to use specifically bred mice called 3×Tg-AD mice. They will assess any changes in the brain of these mice as they age and hopefully determine whether there is a susceptibility for people with hearing loss to develop dementia.
The research is ongoing and the benefits could include the discovery of any shared molecular processes between dementia and hearing loss. It might also show a cause-and-effect relationship between the two conditions and give some understanding of how the treatment of hearing loss might, potentially, lessen the impact of dementia.
Understanding the link between hearing loss and dementia: https://rnid.org.uk/hearing-research/preventing-hearingloss/understanding-the-link-between-hearing-loss-and-dementia/ - last updated January 2025.
By Paula.
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