Is age-related hearing loss associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and dementia?

Findings  In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 36 epidemiologic studies and 20 264 unique participants, age-related hearing loss was significantly associated with decline in all main cognitive domains and with increased risk for cognitive impairment and incident dementia.

Increased risks for Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia were nonsignificant.

Age-related hearing loss is a possible biomarker and modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline, cognitive impairment, and dementia.