Hearing loss in older adults might also cause a loss in brain volume, say researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Devices such as hearing aids could be more important than previously thought.
When investigators studied MRI scans of older individuals (ages 60-77) with hearing loss, they noticed reduced volume of gray matter in the auditory cortex. These individuals also displayed less brain activity on functional MRI scans when listening to complex sentences. This suggests a connection between hearing ability and brain volume say researcher.
My mom and my father-in-law both have a hearing problem and are giving everyone else one with the volume of the TV! That said both were advised to get hearing aides and both have so far refused. It’s a pride thing.
Maybe this study will help. Read it to them.
The study is published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
