Study Finds Hearing Loss and Loneliness Speed Up Dementia in Older Adults
New Delhi: A new study by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) in Switzerland reveals that hearing loss combined with feelings of loneliness accelerates cognitive decline, increasing the risk of dementia in older adults. The research, published in the journal Communications Psychology, highlights the significant impact of hearing impairment on memory, especially among individuals who feel lonely, regardless of whether they are socially isolated.
The study analyzed data from 33,000 older adults across 12 European countries to examine how hearing loss and loneliness together affect cognitive health. Researchers identified three groups based on social isolation and perceived loneliness: those who are socially isolated and lonely, those who are not socially isolated but feel lonely, and those who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely.
“We found that people who were not socially isolated but who felt lonely saw their cognitive decline accelerate when they were deaf,” said Matthias Kliegel, professor in the Cognitive Ageing Laboratory at UNIGE. This finding points to the importance of addressing both hearing loss and emotional wellbeing in preventing cognitive decline.
The researchers emphasized that for individuals who are socially integrated but feel lonely due to hearing impairment, simple interventions like hearing aids could improve their social engagement and protect cognitive health. “These individuals are already socially integrated, so it’s a matter of removing a sensory barrier in order to reinforce their engagement and protect their cognitive health,” said Charikleia Lampraki, postdoctoral researcher in the Lifespan Lab at UNIGE.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide are expected to experience hearing loss or impairment by 2050. Currently, more than 25 percent of people over 60 suffer from disabling hearing impairment. The UNIGE team noted that hearing loss can increase the risk of cognitive decline by two to three times, underlining the need for early hearing care and preventive measures.
The study calls attention to the combined effects of hearing loss and loneliness on cognitive decline, encouraging health professionals to consider both sensory and emotional factors when supporting older adults.
(With inputs IANS)
Jyoti Kumari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Journalism Intern. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. She is passionate about news reporting, content creation, social media, and emerging media trends.