Audiometric Hearing Loss and the Risk of Developing Dementia Over Eight Years in Older Black and White Adults: Findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study - Scorecard - MDSpire
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Audiometric Hearing Loss and the Risk of Developing Dementia Over Eight Years in Older Black and White Adults: Findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study
Clinical Scorecard: Audiometric Hearing Loss and the Risk of Developing Dementia Over Eight Years in Older Black and White Adults: Findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Audiometric hearing loss and its association with dementia and mortality
Key Mechanisms
Hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia potentially through cognitive decline; racial disparities may reflect social and structural factors rather than biological differences
Target Population
Older adults aged 68–89 years, including Black and White racial groups
Care Setting
Community-based epidemiologic and clinical research settings with audiometric and cognitive assessments
Key Highlights
Moderate-to-severe hearing loss is associated with increased risk of dementia similarly in Black and White older adults.
Moderate-to-severe hearing loss is linked to a 2.3-fold increase in mortality among Black participants only.
Racial disparities in hearing healthcare access and treatment may impact health equity and dementia outcomes.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use audiometric pure-tone threshold testing (0.5–4 kHz) to categorize hearing loss severity.
Adjudicate dementia diagnosis using neurocognitive tests, proxy reports, and hospital/death records.
Management
Include hearing loss treatment (hearing aids and aural rehabilitation) as a potential intervention to delay cognitive decline.
Address racial disparities in hearing healthcare access to improve outcomes.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Conduct longitudinal follow-up for cognitive function and mortality in patients with hearing loss.
Monitor hearing loss progression and its impact on dementia risk across racial groups.
Risks
Recognize increased mortality risk associated with moderate-to-severe hearing loss in Black older adults.
Consider social determinants and structural racism as factors influencing hearing healthcare disparities.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Older adults aged 68–89 years, including 22% self-identified Black participants
Hearing interventions may delay cognitive decline by nearly 50%, with benefits observed across racial groups though representation in trials is limited.
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate routine audiometric screening in older adults to identify hearing loss early.
Promote equitable access to hearing healthcare services for minoritized populations.
Use multidisciplinary approaches combining audiology and cognitive assessments for comprehensive care.
Educate patients and caregivers about the link between hearing loss and dementia risk.
Support research inclusive of diverse racial groups to inform policy and clinical guidelines.
by Jennifer A. Deal, John J. Shin, Kening Jiang, A. Richey Sharrett, Josef Coresh, Rebecca F. Gottesman, David S. Knopman, Thomas Mosley, Keenan A. Walker, Frank R. Lin, Nicholas S. Reed
