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Struggling to hear people speak when it’s noisy? It could be a dementia risk
If you’re struggling to hear people speak in a noisy environment, it could be linked to dementia risk, according to research.
There are lots of potential risks that are believed to increase dementia. From a common stomach bug to people falling over more, it can feel like a minefield. But one of the more rare and lesser known potential health symptoms is to do with our ears, not our brains. Hearing difficulties can be linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia, scientists say. Alzheimer’s research looked into the ‘cocktail party’ problem – referring to when someone might struggle to concentrate on a particular person speaking in a loud space.
Hearing problem linked to dementia risk
We’ve all been there, you’re in a busy bar with a friend, and you can’t seem to concentrate on anything but the noise surrounding you. Well, this is known as ‘the cocktail party problem’ and is now being recognized as a challenge for many people with Alzheimers disease.
Dementia is a general term for a range of progressive brain�health�conditions. Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia and is�a brain�disorder�that slowly reduces memory and thinking skills.
Alzheimer’s Research UK‘s largest ongoing dementia study, known as the UK Biobank, saw scientists study more than 82,000 women and men aged 60 years or older to find out more about the cruel disease.
At the beginning of the research, participants attempted to identify spoken numbers against a background of white noise. Scientists then grouped the volunteers into three groups based on their performance in this task.
11,285 of the participants who were identified went on to develop dementia in an 11-year period after the test. Scientists found the volunteers who found it difficult to distinguish spoken numbers from a background of white noise had an increased risk of developing dementia.
Dr Katy Stubbs explained that while most people associate memory problems with dementia, there is far more to understand.
Patients will experience difficulty following speech in a noisy environment (the symptom sometimes called the cocktail party problem).
The researcher said: “This study suggests that these hearing changes may not just be a symptom of dementia, but a risk factor that could potentially be treated.”
If you have concerns about your hearing, you should speak to a doctor for professional advice.
More research is needed
Dr Thomas Littlejohns, a Senior�Epidemiologist, explained that there has been a particular interest in hearing impairments and whether that can increase the risk of dementia.
Findings from studies suggest the symptom could be a modifiable target to reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Additionally, speech and noise are important components as well, and have been researched in the past. It’s become one of the focus points scientists are looking at when developing strategies for treatment and prevention.
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