There are ways to reduce the risk of dementia
The 2020 Report of The Lancet Commission, Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, was released on July 30th, 2020. The latest research states that modifying 12 risk factors from childhood to late life could delay or prevent up to 40% of dementia cases. These lifestyle factors that can be adjusted in order to reduce one’s risk for developing dementia. The 12 modifiable risk factors2 identified by the Lancet Commission are:

According to the study, of these 12 risk factors, untreated hearing loss in midlife remains the largest modifiable risk factor of dementia. Additionally, dementia risk varies based on level of hearing loss.
- Mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia
- Moderate hearing loss triples the risk
- Severe hearing impairment increases dementia risk of up to 5 times that of those who do not have hearing impairment1,8
The recent study by the Lancet Commission also cites that “hearing loss might result in cognitive decline through reduced cognitive stimulation”.2 The study further recommends the use of hearing aids, in those with hearing loss, as a way to protect against cognitive decline.2
If you suspect that you or a loved one might have hearing loss, take HearingLife's online hearing test.