- Hearing loss is an independent risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, even after adjusting for confounders like age and head trauma.
- Hearing screening and intervention may be crucial modifiable risk factors for both dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
- Hearing aid use significantly reduces Parkinson’s disease incidence, but further studies are needed to assess adherence and other influencing factors.
- The study’s generalisability is limited due to its predominantly White male veteran cohort, and causality remains unclear.
A recent study using electronic health records from over 3 million U.S. veterans has identified hearing loss as an independent risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Published in JAMA Neurology, the research revealed that hearing loss increases PD risk even when adjusting for factors like age, head trauma, and prodromal disorders. Researchers suggested that hearing screening and intervention might be low-cost, low-risk strategies to reduce this risk.
The study analysed data from veterans who underwent audiograms between 1999 and 2022, with a follow-up period averaging 7.6 years. Of the cohort, 20.8% had normal hearing. Veterans with mild hearing loss showed a higher incidence of PD at intervals of 5 to 20 years compared to those with normal hearing. Hearing loss was associated with a 26% increased PD risk over 10 years (hazard ratio: 1.26, 95% CI, 1.2-1.32). The risk grew with the severity and duration of hearing loss.
Interestingly, the combination of hearing loss and prodromal PD disorders increased PD risk beyond the expected individual contributions, accounting for up to 21.7 additional PD cases per 10,000 people. Hearing aids appeared to mitigate this risk. When prescribed within two years of hearing loss detection, they significantly reduced the incidence of PD, with benefits observable within a year. The study estimated that treating 462 individuals with hearing aids could prevent one PD case over 10 years.
When prescribed within two years of hearing loss detection, hearing aids significantly reduced the incidence of PD
Despite its insights, the study had limitations. The predominantly White, male veteran cohort limits the generalisability of the findings. Other factors, such as ototoxic drug exposure and adherence to hearing aid use, were not examined. Further research is needed to explore causality, mechanisms, and whether benefits extend to broader populations. These findings underline the potential of hearing interventions in reducing PD risk, particularly in high-risk groups.
Reference
1. Neilson LE, Reavis KM, Wiedrick J, et al. Hearing loss, incident Parkinson disease, and treatment with hearing aids. JAMA Neurol. Published online October 21, 2024. Hearing Loss, Incident Parkinson Disease, and Treatment With Hearing Aids | Movement Disorders | JAMA Neurology | JAMA Network
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