Hearing in noise and cognitive status in older adults: Biomarker associations and bidirectional survival analyses

Hearing impairment (HI) has been identified as a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia, yet its relationship with Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and the temporal directionality remain unclear, particularly in late life.ObjectiveTo examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between HI, clinical cognitive status, and AD biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsWe included 474...

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists should be aware that hearing-in-noise deficits in older adults may be associated with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and cognitive decline, strengthening the rationale for cognitive screening referrals; however, the bidirectional causal relationship requires further prospective confirmation before changing clinical protocols.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

This study adds to the growing evidence base linking hearing function — specifically speech-in-noise performance — with Alzheimer's disease pathology, reinforcing the case for audiology's role in early identification of cognitive decline risk.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Hearing-in-noise performance was associated with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and cognitive status in older adults.
02Bidirectional survival analyses were used to examine whether hearing problems precede or follow cognitive decline — a methodologically important design.
03Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (PMID 42517808), a peer-reviewed journal.
04Findings support growing evidence that speech-in-noise testing may serve as a functional marker relevant to dementia risk.
05Study does not establish whether treating hearing loss causally reduces Alzheimer's risk in this population.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Hearing-in-noise performance is associated with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in older adults.

studypartially supported

There is a bidirectional relationship between hearing-in-noise deficits and cognitive decline in older adults.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42517808
DOI: 10.1177/13872877261470816.
Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 2b
Population: Older adults with varying cognitive status, assessed for Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
Intervention: Hearing-in-noise performance assessment
Comparator: Participants with normal cognitive status or without Alzheimer's biomarkers

Primary outcomes

Association between hearing-in-noise performance and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers; Cognitive status outcomes in bidirectional survival analyses

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