How Hearing Loss Contributes To Alzheimer’s and Dementia

(KNSI) – Stimulation of the brain plays a key role in staving off Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Pat Zook of the Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network says an international panel of experts specifically cites hearing and vision loss as significant contributors to the diseases.

“That consortium has said that hearing loss…you can attribute 8% of dementia to hearing loss alone.”

He says the nature of the condition makes it tough to study appropriately.

“The problem is most people endure hearing loss for several years before they actually get it treated. So, it’s difficult to do studies trying to find when was the exact point of time when their hearing was socially detrimental, that they started to tune out.”

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Zook operates the Dementia Resource Center in St. Cloud, located inside CentraCare’s Midsota Plastic Surgery building.

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