Maintain Your Hearing and Vision to Prevent Cognitive Decline
Whether you’re watching a movie or attending a concert or sporting event, you rely on your hearing and vision to fully enjoy life. As you get older, maintaining your hearing and vision may also help keep your brain healthy.
According to a 2022 report in Journal of the American Medical Association, people with deficits in both their hearing and their vision — a condition known as dual sensory impairment — are at a 160% increased risk for dementia and a 267% increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Maintaining hearing and vision becomes increasingly important as a person gets older,” says Dr. Randy Shinn of Washington Regional’s Senior Health Clinic. “On their own, hearing and vision impairment are each independently associated with cognitive decline. However, dual sensory impairment is associated with even higher risks.”
Cognitive decline is described as having difficulty with memory, concentration and other brain functions beyond what is typically expected due to aging. Of those diagnosed with mild cognitive decline, up to 15% will go on to develop dementia within one year and more than 30% will develop Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia — within five years.
While it is not fully understood how dual sensory impairment plays a role in cognitive decline, regular hearing and vision screenings may help identify older adults who are at increased risk. “Our ears and eyes become more susceptible to disease and other issues as we get older,” Shinn says. “Hearing and vision exams are an important part of preventive health care for everyone, but they become critical as a person ages.” Impairments can then be medically addressed with a goal of preventing cognitive decline. “This is good news, because these are modifiable risk factors,” says Shinn. “You have the power to do something to lower your risk of cognitive decline.”
Hearing
Nearly half of Americans ages 60 and older have hearing loss. The third most common chronic physical condition in the U.S., hearing loss has long been linked to cognitive problems. Treatment options vary from simple interventions, such as removing earwax blockage, to more complex, such as cochlear implants.
Regular hearing exams can help identify, diagnose and treat hearing loss in adults. In addition, people should take measures to prevent hearing loss across their lifespan from non-age-related factors such as noise exposure or ototoxic medications or substances that can damage hearing. “Talk with your health care provider about appropriate safety precautions if you are at risk of these,” Shinn says.
Comprehensive hearing tests from a health care provider may include:
- Reviewing patient and family medical history
- Discussing the patient’s hearing disability and impact on activities and participation
- Visual and/or otoscopic inspection of the ears
- Screening for any abnormality in the ear’s structure and function
Vision
More than one out of every 10 Americans ages 65 and older have vision impairment. Up to 80% of those cases can be corrected with eyeglasses or cataract surgery. For other cases, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, treatments can slow the disease’s progress.
Specialized equipment is needed to adequately evaluate eyes and vision. Shinn recommends a comprehensive eye exam at least once every year for people over 65. Some people may need exams more frequently if recommended by a health care provider.
A comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist or opthomologist includes:
- Reviewing patient and family health history
- Tests to measure clarity or sharpness of vision, also called visual acuity
- Preliminary tests of eye function, including depth perception, color vision, peripheral (side) vision and the response of the pupils to light
- Assessment for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism
- Evaluation of eye focusing and movement abilities
- Eye health examination
“Getting treatment for dual sensory impairment can have a positive impact on your quality of life,” Shinn says. “The first step is talking with your primary care provider.”
If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing and vision loss or signs of cognitive decline, contact Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic at 479.463.4444 to request an appointment, or visit wregional.com/seniorhealth.