Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages
Published on: April 11, 2025
Relationship of hearing loss and dementia: a prospective, population-based study
Richard Klaus Gurgel1, Preston Daniel Ward, Sarah Schwartz
1*Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City; †Center for Epidemiologic Studies, ‡Department of Family Consumer and Human Development, §Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan; and ∥Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research, Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Objective:
To determine whether baseline hearing loss increases cognitive decline and risk for all-cause dementia in a population of elderly individuals.
Study Design:
Longitudinal cohort study.
Setting:
Community-based, outpatient.
Patients:
Men and women aged 65 years or older without dementia at baseline.
Intervention(S):
All subjects completed the Modified Mini-Mental Status Exam (3MS-R) at baseline and over 3 triennial follow-up visits. Hearing loss (HL) at baseline was based on observation of hearing difficulties during testing or interview. Incident dementia was determined by clinical assessment and expert consensus.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Dementia and 3MS-R score.
Results:
At baseline, 4,463 subjects were without dementia, 836 of whom had HL. Of those with HL, 16.3% developed dementia, compared with 12.1% of those without HL (p < 0.001). Mean time to dementia was 10.3 years in the HL group versus 11.9 years for non-HL (log rank test p < 0.001). In Cox regression analyses controlling for sex, presence of APOE- [Latin Small Letter Open E]4 allele, education, and baseline age, and cardiovascular risk factors, HL was an independent predictor of developing dementia (hazard ratio = 1.27, p = 0.026 [95% CI, 1.03-1.56]). Linear mixed models controlling for similar covariates showed HL was associated with faster decline on the 3MS-R, at a rate of 0.26 points/year worse than those without HL.
Conclusion:
Elderly individuals with HL have an increased rate of developing dementia and more rapid decline on 3MS-R scores than their nonhearing impaired counterparts. These findings suggest that hearing impairment may be a marker for cognitive dysfunction in adults age 65 years and older.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Hearing
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

