Relationship between hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and dementia; meta-analysis of cohort studies in which the exposure factor is hearing loss measured by audiometry

Peribáñez García, Roberto (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rodriguez Rodriguez, Francisco Álvaro (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ascaso Adiego, Blanca ; Adiego Leza, María Isabel (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Introduction-objectives: There is a probable relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline and dementia: patients with hearing loss appear to develop cognitive difficulties earlier and more frequently. However, the relationship is not completely clear. A meta-analysis of high-quality studies is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship.

Materials and methods: Meta-analysis of cohort studies in which the exposure factor is hearing loss, necessarily measured with pure-tone audiometry, and the outcome is the progression of cognitive decline measured with validated scales or the onset of dementia. The inclusion period for the studies was 2019–2023.

Results: Of the 5349 articles identified, 11 cohort studies were included in the systematic review; and 8 in the meta-analysis. In those where the outcome was dementia (expressed as Hazard Ratio [HR]), a statistically significant relationship was found, with an HR of 1.32 (1.30–1.34), with low heterogeneity and a low risk of publication bias. In those where the outcome was expressed as linear regression (beta), no statistically significant results were found.

Conclusions: There appears to be a relationship between hearing loss and cognitive impairment/dementia. Other forms of hearing loss (such as central hearing loss) need to be evaluated to fully assess the effect and implications of this relationship.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104799

Año: 2026

Publicado en: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY 47, 2 (2026), 104799 [9 p.]
ISSN: 0196-0709

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Otorrinolaringología (Dpto. Cirugía)
Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)