We’ve previously written about how hearing loss doubles your risk of dementia here at Illustrated Science.
But it was not clear whether hearing loss was the direct cause or whether hearing loss and dementia were the result of a common disease process in the brain.
And after a study from the University of California San Diego, they now believe they have a better understanding of this connection.
The brain copies the damage
The researchers investigated whether hearing loss was linked to differences in specific areas of the brain.
They were able to quickly conclude that hearing loss is not linked to a slow decline in brain function with age.
However, it has been discovered that gradual hearing loss is followed by a gradual breakdown in the parts of the brain that deal with sound, memory and attention.
This means that hearing loss causes changes in the parts of the brain that ensure our cognitive abilities function as they should.
The reason, according to researchers, is that the brain does not receive the same sensory impressions that it is used to.
Meanwhile, wear occurs when the brain has to work harder to process and understand sounds that continue to come through the ears.
“The results suggest that hearing loss can lead to changes in areas of the brain associated with processing sounds, as well as in areas of the brain associated with attention. The extra effort expended in trying to understand sounds can cause changes in the brain that lead to increased hearing.” “Dementia risk,” said McEvoy, lead author of the study and professor emeritus of public health at UC San Diego.
It’s not a particularly uplifting read, but there is one encouraging element: the vast majority of hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids.
The scientists behind it the study He emphasizes how important it is to treat hearing loss, so that the brain continues to be stimulated.
In this way, you can easily and effectively reduce your risk of developing dementia.
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