A team of scientists from Western Australia, including from The University of Western Australia, is involved in a ground-breaking two-year trial to investigate whether hearing aids can delay or stop cognitive decline.
"Current data suggests hearing loss accounts for eight per cent of the modifiable risk factors of all cases of dementia."
Dr Dona Jayakody, research lead for the Cognition and Hearing Loss Project at Ear Science
HearCog, involving researchers from Ear Science Institute Australia, Western Australia Centre for Health and Ageing and UWA, has recruited 180 older adults with hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment.
It follows a landmark report in the Lancet Commission for Dementia which showed that hearing loss was a priority for tackling dementia.
Dr Dona Jayakody, research lead for the Cognition and Hearing Loss Project at Ear Science, developed the trial concept in 2015 when researching the link between cognition and hearing loss.
Dr Jayakody said while research globally had shown a correlation, no definitive study had found treating hearing loss would change the trajectory of cognition.
"My research found hearing loss is associated with cognitive impairment/dementia so I was interested in finding out whether this could be delayed or arrested by treating hearing loss," she said.
"Current data suggests hearing loss accounts for eight per cent of the modifiable risk factors of all cases of dementia."
Adjunct senior lecturer at UWA Medical School, Associate Professor Andrew Ford, co-lead of the study, said several issues had already emerged, with participants reporting the significant impact hearing loss had on loneliness, social isolation, communication challenges and quality of life.
Several reported suicidal ideation at the thought of developing dementia.
"Many things have already emerged that we didn't expect, such as participants wanting to improve their hearing health but having no one to go home to hear with or learn from," he said.
Study participants completed comprehensive assessments of their hearing, cognitive skills, mental and physical health, and lifestyle as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging.
The results of this imaging will allow researchers to gain more insight into the structural and functional changes of the brain as a result of using hearing aids.
The trial, which was made possible through the combined efforts of some of the world's biggest names in healthy ageing, would also explore the cost-effectiveness of the intervention as well as the impact of hearing aids on anxiety, depression, physical health and quality of life.
Partnering with Ear Science, global leader in hearing aids, Oticon, donated approximately $1.1 million worth of hearing aids for study participants.
The study received more than $1.2m competitive funding through Royal Perth Hospital Impact and Innovation Grant, Western Australian Department of Health Research Translation Project Grant, Rebecca Cooper Foundation and Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation - The Ron & Peggy Bell Family Legacy.
Preliminary findings are expected to be published in the middle of 2024.
