Hearing Loss and Brain Shrinkage With Age

WebMD News from HealthDay

By Amy Norton

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with impaired hearing may have a faster rate of brain shrinkage as they age, a new study suggests.

A number of studies have found that older people with hearing loss tend to have a quicker decline in their memory and thinking skills, compared to those with normal hearing.

“We’ve known that common, age-related hearing loss is associated with cognitive [mental] decline. The question is, why?” said Dr. Frank Lin, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and the lead researcher on the new study.

Read More Here: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20140128/hearing-loss-tied-to-faster-brain-shrinkage-with-age