Hörgerät und Gesundheit: Was es für Gedächtnis, Bewegung und Risikofaktoren bringen kann

<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the cognition and the depressive symptoms of elderly individuals with hearing impairment before and after the use of Hearing Aids (HA), in order to determine whether auditory rehabilitation can influence cognition and mood.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a prospective longitudinal study including elderly participants (>60 years) treated at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies (HRAC), University of São Paulo (USP), who had indication for the use of hearing aids for auditory rehabilitation. Prior to HA fitting, tests were applied to assess cognition (Mini-Mental State Exam, verbal fluency test, and clock drawing test), mood (Geriatric Depression Scale), and restriction in daily life activities due to hearing loss (HHIE). These tests were repeated at 6- and 12-months after HA fitting.<h4>Results</h4>The study included 56 elderly individuals with a mean age of 73.9-years (±6.9). After 6-months of HA use, a significant increase was observed in the MMSE score ‒ from 23.4 (±4.8) to 24.8 (±4.5) (p = 0.016) ‒ and in the clock test score ‒ from 5.7 (±3.7) to 7.0 (±3.0) (p = 0.016). Participants without initial cognitive decline showed no significant differences. Among those re-evaluated after 12-months, the MMSE score increased from 25.6 (±3.0) to 28.2 (±1.7) (p = 0.001). Verbal fluency improved from 11.0 (±2.7) to 14.3 (±4.2) (p = 0.0013), and the clock test from 7.5 (±2.1) to 8.5 (±1.3) (p = 0.0387). In the subgroup without initial cognitive

Although the phenomena underlying cognitive decline and dementia are complex, there is growing evidence suggesting that degraded sensory inputs caused by age-related hearing loss may play a central role in accelerating cognitive decline in older individuals. Further supporting this notion is evidence that hearing augmentation with hearing aids can mitigate hearing loss-related cognitive impairments. Despite this evidence, few studies have attempted to investigate hearing aid efficacy with a focus on cognitive outcome measures. In this preliminary study, we sought to determine if certain demographic and audiological factors are linked to individual differences regarding observed cognitive changes following hearing aid use. We show that several factors can explain large portions of the variance observed in cognitive score changes following short-term hearing aid use in first-time users, suggesting that it might be possible to develop predictive algorithms to determine individualized estimates of the cognitive benefit of hearing aid use. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted, in particular, to explore a wider array of cognitive functions, investigate a greater range of potential predictors, and better quantify their relative contribution to outcome measure estimates.

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Hearing loss and dementia are highly prevalent conditions in older adults and represent a growing public health challenge. Over the past decade, a substantial body of epidemiological evidence has demonstrated a consistent association between age-related hearing loss and cognitive dysfunction, including incident dementia. However, the nature of this relationship remains incompletely understood. <b>Methods:</b> This narrative review provides a structured overview of current evidence, focusing on epidemiological findings, mechanistic pathways, and clinical implications. Hearing loss has been associated with both accelerated cognitive decline and increased dementia risk, with a clear severity-impact relationship. <b>Results:</b> Several interacting mechanisms have been proposed, including increased cognitive load, structural and functional brain changes, social isolation, and shared vascular and metabolic risk factors. Emerging concepts such as the "auditory brain" and central auditory dysfunction further suggest that hearing impairment may also represent an early manifestation of neurodegenerative processes. Intervention studies have yielded mixed results. While hearing rehabilitation improves communication and quality of life, randomized evidence has not consistently demonstrated a reduction in cognitive decline in the general population, but potential benefits may exist in higher-risk subgroups. Increasing attention has been directed toward the ro

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Few studies have examined the relationship between hearing aid use and physical activity levels, yielding inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between hearing aid use and physical activity levels in a representative sample of older adults with hearing loss and a clinical indication for hearing aid use in Chile. <b>Methods</b>: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from a nationally representative health survey employing geographically stratified, multistage probability sampling. Participants were aged ≥60, had medical indication for hearing aid use, demonstrated normal cognitive function, and reported no motor disability. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). We also collected data on self-perceived hearing status, specialist recommendations for hearing aid use, and adherence among device owners. Multivariate ordinal regression models evaluated the association between hearing aid use and physical activity, accounting for the survey's complex sampling design. <b>Results:</b> The sample comprised 356 individuals, representing 599,912 older adults after applying survey weights. Overall, 50.5% reported owning a hearing aid; of these, 46.8% always used their device, and 19.1% never used it. Compared with consistent users, participants who used their hearing aid "sometimes" or "rarely" had significantly lower odds of higher physical activity lev

<h4>Objective</h4>This study examined the associations between hearing loss (HL) and other modifiable dementia risk factors in adults aged 50 years or older living in Tasmania and explored the effects of corrected versus uncorrected HL on these factors.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study design using an online survey categorised participants as No-HL, HL-corrected or HL-uncorrected. Logistic regression estimated the odds of being in higher dementia risk categories.<h4>Results</h4>The HL-corrected group was more likely to be in the low-risk alcohol group (OR = 0.567, 95% CI: 0.468-0.687), 28% less likely for high cholesterol (OR = 0.722, 95% CI: 0.571-0.913) and 26% less likely for diabetes (OR = 0.743, 95% CI: 0.582-0.948). They also had lower odds than the HL-uncorrected group for alcohol risk (OR = 0.652, 95% CI: 0.508-0.837).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Corrected HL is associated with reduced odds of higher-risk categories for diabetes, alcohol use and high cholesterol.