In recent years, dementia has overtaken heart disease to
become the leading cause of death among older adults in several high-income
countries. But for people living with dementia or caring for someone who has
it, the daily challenges and impact on quality of life often matter far more
than statistics.
Researchers have identified two practical steps that can
reduce the risk of developing dementia and may help slow its progression. The
first is protecting your hearing and detecting any hearing loss early through
regular hearing checks. The second is receiving vaccination against shingles.
Hearing loss increases your chance of dementia
There is strong evidence linking hearing loss with a higher
risk of dementia. The greater the hearing loss, and the longer it goes
untreated, the higher the risk appears to be.
One explanation may be social. Difficulty hearing can lead
people to withdraw from conversations and social activities. Over time,
isolation and depression can increase dementia risk. There is also a
neurological effect. When hearing declines, the brain has to work much harder
to interpret sound and speech. This extra strain may affect memory and
thinking, and brain scans show faster shrinkage in areas linked to sound
processing and memory among people with hearing loss.
Large studies examining multiple dementia risk factors
consistently rank hearing loss as one of the most significant contributors.
Mild hearing loss nearly doubles the risk, moderate loss triples it, and severe
hearing loss increases the risk by almost five times.
Hearing loss does not mean someone will definitely develop
dementia – only that the risk is higher. One of the simplest preventative steps
is to arrange a hearing test and manage any hearing loss as early as possible.
The shingles vaccine can reduce your chance of dementia
A new study from Wales suggests that the shingles vaccine
may help reduce dementia risk. A large study from the United Kingdom followed
more than 280,000 older adults and found that those who received a shingles
vaccine had around a 20% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over the
following seven years. The protective effect appeared stronger in women.
The idea is not entirely new. Scientists have long suspected
that infections such as shingles may contribute to long-term brain
inflammation. Because the changes associated with dementia can begin many years
before symptoms appear, preventing infections earlier in life could help reduce
risk later on.
Shingles vaccines are now widely available in many
countries, sometimes fully or partially subsidised through public health
programs, with private costs varying by region. Some experts suggest that
earlier access may offer greater benefit, particularly if early cognitive
changes are already present.
