Neurology

Hearing aids tied to reduced dementia risk despite minimal impact on cognitive test scores

February 3, 2026

In a target trial emulation using data from 2,777 Australian adults (mean age, 75 years) enrolled in the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly study, hearing aid prescription was associated with a 33% lower 7‑year risk of dementia compared with no hearing aid use (5.0% vs. 7.5%; risk ratio [RR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.97). Hearing aid use was also associated with a 15% reduction in cognitive impairment risk among those with moderate hearing loss (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.70–1.00). Dementia risk decreased with more frequent hearing aid use, though overall cognitive scores were largely similar between groups.

Clinical takeaway: For older patients with hearing impairment, proactively treating hearing loss—and emphasizing consistent hearing aid use—may help reduce future dementia risk, even if short‑term cognitive gains are modest.

Source:

Cribb L, et al. (2026, January 14). Neurology. Treating Hearing Loss With Hearing Aids for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline and Dementia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41534012/