Think Thursday: Hearing Health is Brain Health

We tend to think of hearing as something that happens in our ears, but hearing is really a partnership between the ears and the brain. And growing research suggests that when hearing begins to decline, it may have implications for cognitive health as well.

In this episode of Think Thursday, Molly explores the connection between hearing loss and dementia risk, including what the latest research says about whether hearing aids may help protect cognitive function.

You’ll learn:

• Why hearing loss is considered a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia
• How “effortful listening” may place additional demands on the brain
• The role social isolation may play in the hearing–cognition connection
• What the ACHIEVE trial found about hearing aids and cognitive decline
• Why hearing aids cannot currently be said to prevent dementia
• Signs that it may be time to have your hearing evaluated
• Simple ways to protect your hearing from noise-related damage

The takeaway: protecting your hearing isn’t just about preserving sound. It’s another practical way to support the connection between your brain and the world around you.

Research mentioned:
The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention
The ACHIEVE randomized clinical trial
2026 World Health Organization dementia risk-reduction guidance
2026 multinational research on hearing aid use and probable dementia

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