Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: A 25-Year Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and cognitive decline.


METHODS
Prospective population-based study.


METHODS
Data gathered from the Personnes Agées QUID study, a cohort study begun in 1989-90.


METHODS
Individuals aged 65 and older (N = 3,670).


METHODS
At baseline, hearing loss was determined using a questionnaire assessing self-perceived hearing loss; 137 subjects reported major hearing loss, 1,139 reported moderate problems (difficulty following the conversation when several persons talk at the same time or in a noisy background), and 2,394 reported no hearing trouble. Cognitive decline was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), administered at follow-up visits over 25 years.


RESULTS
Self-reported hearing loss was significantly associated with lower baseline MMSE score (β = -0.69, P < .001) and greater decline during the 25-year follow-up period (β = -0.04, P = .01) independent of age, sex, and education. A difference in the rate of change in MMSE score over the 25-year follow-up was observed between participants with hearing loss not using hearing aids and controls (β = -0.06, P < .001). In contrast, subjects with hearing loss using a hearing aid had no difference in cognitive decline (β = 0.07, P = .08) from controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported hearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline in older adults; hearing aid use attenuates such decline.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Hélène
H
Amieva
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Camille
C
Ouvrard
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Caroline
C
Giulioli
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Céline
C
Meillon
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Laetitia
L
Rullier
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U897, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
Jean-François
JF
Dartigues
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
cognitive decline; elderly; hearing aids; hearing loss