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A personalized intervention for hearing care could help protect cognitive health in older adults at risk of dementia, according to a pilot study conducted by University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH).
Supported by the UCLH Biomedical Research Center, the study found that a tailored hearing intervention led to significantly higher hearing aid use among individuals with mild cognitive impairment—a group particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline.
Personalized Approach to Hearing Care
The intervention consisted of four structured sessions designed to maximize the benefits of hearing aids. These sessions focused on fitting and adjusting the devices, setting personal communication goals, providing practical support for integrating hearing aid use into daily life, and fine-tuning device settings as needed.
The study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, was conducted in community memory clinics across three NHS Trusts and involved 58 participants aged 55 or older with untreated hearing loss. Results showed that 75% of participants receiving personalized hearing support used their hearing aids daily, compared to just 22% following standard care.
Addressing Dementia Risk Factors
This increase in hearing aid use is significant because hearing loss is a major modifiable risk factor for dementia. Previous UCL research has suggested that addressing hearing loss, along with 13 other modifiable risk factors, could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases.
The study provides a practical solution to a pressing public health challenge: untreated hearing loss raises dementia risk, yet many individuals who would benefit from hearing aids do not use them consistently. This intervention demonstrates that a structured, personalized approach can engage individuals with mild memory issues and help them overcome barriers to consistent hearing aid use.
Expert Insights and Future Research
Chief Investigator of the study, Professor Sergi Costafreda (UCL Psychiatry), emphasized the importance of the findings: “Our pilot study shows that we can recruit and retain people with mild memory problems in a study like this, and that the intervention was acceptable to patients—with three-quarters of patients in the intervention group using their hearing aids daily. There were indications in our study that people in the intervention group performed better in a cognitive test, but we now need a larger trial where we can properly test this.”
Co-author Professor Anne Schilder (UCL Ear Institute), BRC Hearing Health Theme Director, added, “Our pilot study shows we could now confidently move on to a large-scale study where we look at the impact of this hearing health intervention on cognitive function. This group may stand to benefit the most from hearing aids, given the potential role of hearing aids in preserving cognition and independent living.”
Next Steps
Further large-scale research is needed to confirm the cognitive benefits of personalized hearing support. If validated, this approach could be widely implemented in clinical settings to help protect brain health in older adults at risk of dementia.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individuals experiencing hearing loss or cognitive concerns should consult healthcare professionals for personalized recommendations and treatment.
