Introduction Hearing loss is a condition that affects 1.5 million people in 2021 according to the World Health Organization(1). People with age-related hearing loss have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairments like Dementia and Alzheimer's. But why? In this blog, we'll look at the connection between hearing and cognition through research that has been done to explore the link. Cognitive Decline and Dementia Firstly, what is cognitive decline? Cognitive decline, like Dementia and Alzheimer's, are debilitating impairments of the brain. These diseases affect over 50 million people worldwide (2). Dementia is an umbrella term for various cognitive diseases, including Alzheimer's. All are a reduction in cognitive functions like memory, attention, processing, etc. in varying parts of the brain. Now, it's relation to hearing... Hearing loss affects more than your ability to hear. On the surface, hearing loss may seem like a relatively minor nuisance. You might have trouble hearing your spouse or kids. Additionally, you might have to ask people to repeat themselves when they talk to you. These difficulties can actually have a significant impact on your health and quality of life, especially for adults over 65 years of age. Negative impacts on physical and mental health coincide with symptoms of hearing loss. Including difficulty communicating, social isolation, higher risk of falls, depression, heart problems, diabetes, and cognitive decline. For unknown reasons, hearing loss overlaps with a variety of other health-related issues. With Dementia and Alzheimer's, hearing loss is the highest independent risk factor (1, 2, 4) followed by...