Incident Hearing Loss and Subsequent Risk of Dementia: The Health and Retirement Study 2010-2018

Background and Objectives
While hearing loss is a known risk factor for dementia, the impact of incident hearing loss on subsequent dementia risk remains underexplored. This study examined the association between newly reported hearing loss and dementia risk in U.S. adults, focusing on critical intervention periods for dementia prevention.
Research Design and Methods
Participants from the Health and Retirement Study who reported no hearing loss or hearing aid use in 2010 or 2012 were included. Incident hearing loss and dementia were assessed via self-report and proxy report. Pooled logistic regression models with inverse probability weighting estimated the cumulative incidence of dementia at 2, 4, 6, and 8 years after baseline. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated from 200 bootstrap samples. Subgroup analyses were conducted by age, sex, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) status.
Results
Among 13,599 participants, 1125 (8.3%) reported incident hearing loss. Dementia incidence was higher among those with hearing loss (6.6%) compared to those without (4.9%). Starting at 4 years, incident hearing loss was associated with a higher dementia risk, persisting at 8 years (RR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.59). This association was significant among individuals aged 50-64 years and those with CVD.
Discussion and Implications
Incident hearing loss is associated with a heightened dementia risk, particularly in midlife and among individuals with CVD. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of timely interventions aimed at preventing dementia in individuals with hearing loss.