A doctor says a common ear problem associated with getting older is linked to dementia and can be treated. Dr Anelyssa D’Abreu, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) School of Medicine, was speaking after a UVA study found that people belonging to Generation X – those born between 1965 and 1980 – were at a heightened risk of dementia due to the widespread use of leaded gasoline when they were growing up.
Further, a study published in the Nature Medicine journal predicted a doubling of the number of dementia cases by 2060 due to an ageing population. It also found new cases among Black communities in the USA would nearly triple.
Dr D’Abreu, who specialises in geriatric neurology, told UVA Today : “I don’t think this is really surprising because we know the population is ageing. Age is the strongest risk factor for the development of dementia.”
She said that, while there was currently no cure for dementia, “we do have some hope”, as, in the past two years, new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease that slow the progression of the disease had been found.
Link between hearing loss and dementia – and what can be done
Dr D’Abreu said: “There is definitely an association between hearing loss and dementia. People should be evaluated for hearing loss. And if they do and hearing aids are recommended, they should be treated. There is some evidence this is beneficial and might prevent cognitive decline, especially in patients who are already at high risk for having other disorders.”
What else can be done to reduce dementia risk
Dr D’Abreu added: “Exercise is a big one. There is no magic number or magic activity. We follow some general guidelines. So, at least 150 minutes a week, divided into three to five sessions. But that’s the minimum.
“Definitely stop smoking. Don’t necessarily stop alcohol intake, per se, but at least reduce it somewhat. Especially if the person already has some kind of cognitive changes or other risk factors that might increase the risk of dementia and cardiovascular risk factors.
“(Be aware of) things that increase your risk of having heart disease. So, this is high blood pressure. It’s also very important to treat high cholesterol and manage diabetes. A healthy weight also seems to be protective for the brain. Making sure that people have opportunities to be socially engaged also seems to be fairly important, especially in older adults.”