Using hearing aids before age 70 may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life. 🧠🦻
Published In: JAMA Neurology
Date: August 2025
Authors: Francis, et al.
Link to Study: Read the full article
Summary
This long-term study from the Framingham Heart Study found that people under 70 with hearing loss who used hearing aids had a 61% lower risk of developing dementia over the next 20 years, compared to those who didn’t use them. There was no such protective effect observed in people who began using hearing aids after age 70. These findings suggest that earlier intervention may be key in reducing dementia risk.
Key Takeaways
✅ Hearing loss before age 70 is linked to increased dementia risk.
✅ Using hearing aids before age 70 lowered dementia risk by 61%.
✅ No significant benefit was seen in those who started using hearing aids at 70 or older.
✅ Results remained consistent even after adjusting for vascular risk and education level.
✅ Only 17% of people with moderate to severe hearing loss use hearing aids, highlighting a major public health gap.
Why It Matters for You
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, don’t wait.
Getting and using hearing aids before age 70 could help protect your brain health for years to come.
Citation
Francis, L., Seshadri, S., Dillard, L. K., Kujawa, S. G., Welling, D. B., Alcabes, R. L., & Beiser, A. S. (2025). Self-Reported Hearing Aid Use and Risk of Incident Dementia. JAMA Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.2713