{"id":180150,"date":"2023-09-22T11:02:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/?p=180150"},"modified":"2023-09-22T11:02:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:02:27","slug":"the-unexpected-alzheimers-warning-sign-that-affects-12-million-brits-and-how-to-beat-it-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/lifestyle\/the-unexpected-alzheimers-warning-sign-that-affects-12-million-brits-and-how-to-beat-it-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"The unexpected Alzheimer's warning sign that affects 12 million Brits – and how to beat it | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

AROUND 12million people in the UK are affected by hearing loss.<\/p>\n

It can have a significant impact on every aspect of a sufferer's life – from their ability to socialise to perform simple daily tasks. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But a partial or complete incapacity to hear sounds is also a major risk factor for developing dementia. <\/p>\n

Studies have shown links between hearing loss and cognitive decline, including a higher chance of the brain-robbing disease. <\/p>\n

Research by John Hopkins Medicine found that mild hearing loss doubled a person's dementia risk, while moderate loss tripled it and severe impairment increased it five-fold.<\/p>\n

Another study, published in The Lancet in 2020, identified hearing loss as one of 12 key changeable risk factors for dementia. <\/p>\n

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Doctors put it down to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Social isolation (reduced engagement in social activities and loneliness are known risk factors)<\/li>\n
  2. Cognitive load (hearing loss requires more mental effort to understand speech and follow conversations) <\/li>\n
  3. Brain changes (some research suggests neuroanatomical alterations happen, linked to cognitive impairment) <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Thankfully, experts say hearing loss is a modifiable dementia risk factor – meaning it can be reduced. <\/p>\n

    Former NHS CEO and hearing expert Amanda Philpott, co-founder of training app eargym, said: "Hearing loss is a big and growing problem: 12m people in the UK are affected by it yet most of us don't test or train our hearing regularly.<\/p>\n

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    "The World Health Organization estimates that in addition to the 430m adults globally already experiencing a disabling level of hearing loss, around 1.1billion more young people are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss, meaning pretty much all of us could do with protecting our hearing health a little bit more.<\/p>\n

    "Hearing\u00a0loss\u00a0can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, affecting their ability to communicate, socialise, and perform daily tasks. <\/p>\n

    "Early intervention can often improve outcomes and help prevent further deterioration of\u00a0hearing."<\/p>\n

    So what can we do to take better care of our hearing and potentially reduce our risk of Alzheimer's – the most common type of dementia?<\/p>\n

    Getting tested<\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s important for adults of all ages to have their hearing regularly tested, Philpott said. <\/p>\n

    It\u2019s easy to book a hearing test with a high street audiologist, or use an app to check yourself using your phone. <\/p>\n

    "You can\u2019t take steps to improve and protect your hearing if you don\u2019t understand your hearing health first," Philpott said.<\/p>\n

    "We should all be testing our hearing regularly, just like we test eyesight and blood pressure."<\/p>\n

    Hearing training\u00a0<\/h2>\n

    Whilst the ear itself cannot be directly improved, the brain can learn and respond to specific auditory stimuli. <\/p>\n

    The sensorineural aspects of our hearing (i.e. the parts of the ear that take in sound) can only be improved by physical intervention, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants.<\/p>\n

    But our hearing isn't just sensorineural – it's also about how we process sound and apply meaning to it. <\/p>\n

    The right hearing training exercises – designed to help you practice skills like locating where sounds are coming from, understanding speech in noisy places and remembering and telling different sounds apart – can work with the brain to help you gain the most from what you hear, improving listening skills and speech comprehension. <\/p>\n

    "Regular practice for just a few minutes a day can help you get the most out of hearing training," Philpott said. <\/p>\n

    Protect yourself <\/h2>\n

    "It\u2019s crucial to protect your ears from loud noises," the hearing expert said.<\/p>\n

    "Use earplugs or ear defenders when exposed to loud environments, such as concerts or construction sites, and don\u2019t listen to loud music in headphones in already-noisy environments for prolonged periods of time."<\/p>\n

    Seek help if required<\/h2>\n

    If hearing loss is detected and is severe enough to require intervention, take advantage of the support available to you, Philpott urged. <\/p>\n

    "Hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices can be incredibly powerful," she added.<\/p>\n

    "There\u2019s a huge amount of stigma against wearing hearing aids in the UK, which we need to overcome if we\u2019re to adequately look after our hearing and cognitive health."<\/p>\n

    Maintaining a healthy lifestyle\u00a0<\/h2>\n

    Finally, the former NHS CEO advised Brits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.<\/p>\n

    "Staying regularly engaged in social activity, seeking cognitive stimulation and taking care of our cardiovascular health can play a role in reducing the risk of both hearing loss and the associated cognitive decline," she said. <\/p>\n

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    About 944,000 Brits are currently living with dementia, but experts predict this will exceed one million by 2030.<\/p>\n

    Alzheimer\u2019s\u00a0is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.<\/p>\n

    What is dementia?<\/h3>\n

    DEMENTIA is a group of related symptoms associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning.<\/p>\n

    There are many different causes, and several different types. <\/p>\n

    Alzheimer's is a form of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases. <\/p>\n

    The most common symptoms of dementia include problems with:<\/p>\n