Projects per year
Abstract
Background: Hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia with estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.28-2.39. However, potential intercontinental variability in this HR remains unexplored. This meta-analysis examined whether intercontinental variability exists in the relation between hearing loss and dementia.
Methods: MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Academic Search Ultimate, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched, from inception to 2024, for cohort studies of dementia-free individuals with hearing assessments at baseline, minimum 2-year follow-up, and incident dementia outcomes. Random-effect and multilevel models with subgroup difference tests were conducted.
Results: Forty-nine studies analysed cohorts from North America (n =20), Europe (n = 20), Asia (n = 7), and Oceania (n = 2). Hearing loss (yes vs. no) was associated with increased risk of incident dementia (HR = 1.32 [95% CI: 1.23–1.41]) with HRs varying across continents (p <.001). HRs were largest for Oceania and smallest for Asia. In a sensitivity analysis where the one study from Oceania was removed, HRs did not differ significantly by continent. Imprecise estimates create uncertainty around whether mild (HR = 1.35 [95% CI: 0.86 – 2.11]), moderate (HR = 1.39 [95% CI: 0.57–3.35]) or severe (HR = 1.66 [95% CI: 0.59–4.64]) hearing loss are associated with increased dementia risk, with little evidence that HRs by severity differ by continent (p = .059).
Conclusions: Findings indicate that the association between hearing loss and incidence of dementia is consistent globally. However, HRs may vary slightly by continent.
Methods: MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Academic Search Ultimate, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched, from inception to 2024, for cohort studies of dementia-free individuals with hearing assessments at baseline, minimum 2-year follow-up, and incident dementia outcomes. Random-effect and multilevel models with subgroup difference tests were conducted.
Results: Forty-nine studies analysed cohorts from North America (n =20), Europe (n = 20), Asia (n = 7), and Oceania (n = 2). Hearing loss (yes vs. no) was associated with increased risk of incident dementia (HR = 1.32 [95% CI: 1.23–1.41]) with HRs varying across continents (p <.001). HRs were largest for Oceania and smallest for Asia. In a sensitivity analysis where the one study from Oceania was removed, HRs did not differ significantly by continent. Imprecise estimates create uncertainty around whether mild (HR = 1.35 [95% CI: 0.86 – 2.11]), moderate (HR = 1.39 [95% CI: 0.57–3.35]) or severe (HR = 1.66 [95% CI: 0.59–4.64]) hearing loss are associated with increased dementia risk, with little evidence that HRs by severity differ by continent (p = .059).
Conclusions: Findings indicate that the association between hearing loss and incidence of dementia is consistent globally. However, HRs may vary slightly by continent.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Aging and Mental Health |
| Early online date | 13 Jun 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Jun 2025 |
Keywords
- Dementia
- Hearing Loss
- Risk Factors
- Brain Health
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NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
Bruce, I. (PI), Lord, G. (CoI), Lennon, R. (CoI), Black, G. (CoI), Wedge, D. (CoI), Morris, A. (CoI), Hussell, T. (CoI), Sharrocks, A. (CoI), Stivaros, S. (CoI), Buch, M. (CoI), Gough, J. (CoI), Kostarelos, K. (CoI), Thistlethwaite, F. (CoI), Kadler, K. (CoI), Barton, A. (CoI), Hyrich, K. (CoI), Mcbeth, J. (CoI), O'Neill, T. (CoI), Vestbo, J. (CoI), Simpson, A. (CoI), Singh, S. (CoI), Smith, J. (CoI), Felton, T. (CoI), Murray, C. (CoI), Griffiths, C. (CoI), Cullum, N. (CoI), Rhodes, L. (CoI), Warren, R. (CoI), Paus, R. (CoI), Dumville, J. (CoI), Viros Usandizaga, A. (CoI), Keavney, B. (CoI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Body, R. (CoI), Cartwright, E. (CoI), Heagerty, A. (CoI), Kalra, P. (CoI), Miller, C. (CoI), Rutter, M. (CoI), Smith, C. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Evans, D. (CoI), Crosbie, E. (CoI), Crosbie, P. (CoI), Harvie, M. (CoI), Howell, S. (CoI), Renehan, A. (CoI), Dive, C. (CoI), Blackhall, F. (CoI), Landers, D. (CoI), Krebs, M. (CoI), Cook, N. (CoI), Clarke, R. (CoI), Taylor, S. (CoI), Jorgensen, C. (CoI), Lorigan, P. (CoI), Jayson, G. (CoI), Valle, J. (CoI), Mccabe, M. (CoI), Armstrong, A. (CoI), Freitas, A. (CoI), Illidge, T. (CoI), Choudhury, A. (CoI), Hoskin, P. (CoI), West, C. (CoI), Van Herk, M. (CoI), Faivre-Finn, C. (CoI), Bristow, R. (CoI), Kirkby, K. (CoI), Birtle, A. (CoI), Mackay, R. (CoI), Radford, J. (CoI), Linton, K. (CoI), Higham, C. (CoI), Munro, K. (CoI), Plack, C. (CoI), Arden Armitage, C. (CoI), Bruce, I. (CoI), Moore, D. (CoI), Saunders, G. (CoI), Stone, M. (CoI), Haddock, G. (CoI), Lewis, S. (CoI), Elliott, R. (CoI), Green, J. (CoI), Lovell, K. (CoI), Morrison, A. (CoI), Shaw, J. (CoI), Bucci, S. (CoI), Ainsworth, J. (CoI), Webb, R. (CoI), Newman, W. (CoI), Banka, S. (CoI), Clayton-Smith, J. (CoI), Payne, K. (CoI), Moldovan, R. (CoI), Wynn, R. (CoI) & Jones, S. (CoI)
1/12/22 → 30/11/27
Project: Research
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Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD)
Munro, K. (PI), Millman, R. (PI), Lamb, W. (Support team), Dawes, P. (PI), Plack, C. (PI), Stone, M. (PI), Kluk-De Kort, K. (PI), Moore, D. (PI), Morton, C. (PI), Prendergast, G. (PI), Couth, S. (PI), Schlittenlacher, J. (PI), Chilton, H. (PI), Visram, A. (Researcher), Dillon, H. (PI), Guest, H. (Researcher), Heinrich, A. (PI), Jackson, I. (Researcher), Littlejohn, J. (Researcher), Jones, L. (PI), Lough, M. (Researcher), Morgan, R. (Researcher), Perugia, E. (Researcher), Roughley, A. (Researcher), Whiston, H. (Researcher), Wright, C. (Support team), Saunders, G. (PI), Kelly, C. (PI), Cross, H. (Researcher), Loughran, M. (Researcher), Hoseinabadi, R. (PI) & Vercammen, C. (PI)
Project: Research