Dementia risk could be reduced by completing 10 minute exercise daily

An expert recommended using a website or app to take part in this activity regularly, with research showing it could lower the risk of dementia by as much as seven percent

Dementia is devastating condition for both the affected person and their loved ones. It is thought to affect almost one million people in the UK, with numbers expected to rise in the coming decades.

While it is most common among people over the age of 65, getting older is not the only risk factor. And recent research has shown that adjusting various lifestyle, health and societal factors could slash your chances of developing dementia by as much as 40 percent.

These factors, published as part of a study in The Lancet, include things such as social isolation, exposure to air pollution and physical inactivity. However, one of the most impactful factors is one that might not be expected - hearing loss.

The study found that of the 14 identifiable risk factors for dementia, preventing hearing loss during midlife could slash the chances of developing the condition by seven percent. This was the highest potential reduction of all the factors.

With this in mind, former-NHS chief executive and founder of hearing health platform eargym, Amanda Philpott, explained that carrying out a simple daily habit could help protect against hearing loss and therefore dementia.

She said: “There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s and research into the disease is ongoing. But we do know that our lifestyle and overall health can have an impact on our risk of developing the condition - and this includes our hearing.

“While many studies suggest a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, research is ongoing, and not everyone with hearing loss will develop Alzheimer’s or dementia. But with the World Health Organisation predicting a significant increase to the 1.5 billion adults already living with some degree of hearing loss, we should all be taking steps to protect our hearing and reduce our risk of cognitive decline.”

She suggested that hearing loss can contribute to the development of cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia by increasing the following issues.

Social isolation

Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and reduced engagement in social activities. Isolation and loneliness are known risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia.

Cognitive load

When individuals have even mild hearing loss, it requires more cognitive effort to understand speech and follow conversations. This increased cognitive load may divert resources from other cognitive tasks, potentially contributing to cognitive decline over time.

Brain changes

Some studies have also suggested that untreated hearing loss might lead to changes in the brain, which could be linked to cognitive impairment and the onset of dementia.

10 minute task to reduce dementia risk

Amanda said: “Contrary to popular belief, age and noise related hearing loss is not inevitable. By actively training our hearing, we can improve our hearing health and reduce our risk of developing Alzheimer’s as a result.

“With as little as 10 minutes of hearing training each day, we can strengthen the ear-brain connection and reduce our risk of developing hearing loss and related cognitive conditions, like Alzheimer’s.”

She therefore recommended using online or app-based interactive hearing games for 10 minutes every day. These can help to enhance our auditory processing, such as distinguishing sounds in noisy environments and practising sound localisation.

Amanda said: “These exercises not only improve our listening and speech comprehension but also strengthen the auditory system.”

Further to this you should regularly get your hearing checked, either with a hearing health app or visiting an audiologist. This will help you to monitor your hearing health and detect any signs of hearing loss early.

She added: “Regular hearing training, along with routine checkups, supports our long-term hearing health, which can have a huge impact on our overall brain health and our risk for conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. With hearing loss on the rise, incorporating hearing exercises into our daily routine can be a simple and effective way to lower the risk of developing the condition later in life.”

The Alzheimer’s Society also warns that hearing loss can both increase your risk of dementia and be a symptom of the condition. To lower your risk the charity advises getting your hearing tested.

It adds: “The use of hearing aids has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia to the level of a person with normal hearing. Remember that hearing loss is only a risk factor and does not mean that a person with hearing loss will develop dementia.”

Common early symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
• Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
• Being confused about time and place
• Mood changes

If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of dementia, you should speak to a GP.

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