“Forgetfulness” could be a sign of a problem, and it’s not Alzheimer’s
Due genetic traits & family history we are told that Alzheimer’s & Dementia could be a high probability & that right now there is nothing we can do to prevent it, yet on a daily basis I see new discoveries that give us hope.
Memory loss and confusion are among the most frightening aspects of aging but is it Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?
A recent study from the University of Toronto suggests that at least some forgetfulness may be due to hearing troubles.
The research, published the Canadian Journal on Aging. The researchers performed cognitive screens of elderly who complained about forgetfulness & found that while most of patients’ brains were functioning fine—it was their hearing that was at fault (Yet only 20% were wearing a hearing aid).
According to a prior study, untreated hearing loss & having trouble communicating are risk for social isolation and loneliness—conditions that can contribute to dementia.
Takeaways
The bottom line is you can’t remember something you’ve never heard & you can’t follow directions if you can’t hear them…no matter how good your brain works.
If you or your family member appear to have memory & cognitive issues, please ask your Doctor to recommend a Hearing Screen, because it may not be Dementia or Alzheimer’s after all!
If you are an M.D., consider adding a Hearing Screen to your Dementia & Alzheimer’s diagnostic tool box.