In July 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia*. Dementia is a brain condition that affects thinking, memory, and the ability to function. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of the cases.
Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, and lack of physical activity, which can increase cognitive decline. Hearing loss reduces brain stimulation because there are areas of the brain not receiving auditory stimulation. According to WHO, “In theory, if hearing loss was reduced to zero at the population level, it is estimated that about 7% of dementia cases could be prevented.” This is a bold statement, as previously WHO placed emphasis on identifying hearing loss. Now they are recommending actively treating hearing loss. This comes as no surprise to hearing care providers.
I personally have seen many cases of improvement in patients with dementia who are fitted with hearing aids, so this is not news to me! Receiving brain stimulation and being actively involved with those around you are very important. Sometimes patients will tell me they do not wear their hearing aids when they are home alone. I stress how important it is to hear the environment around you. Brain stimulation does not just come from hearing speech, but from hearing any sounds around you.
Everyone should have a baseline hearing evaluation. Call Gardner Audiology today at 800-277-1182 to schedule an appointment at one of our 8 locations. You can also schedule online at www.gardneraudiology.com. We are credentialed with most insurances.
* Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
