In 1906, Alzheimer’s Disease was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in his patient, known as August D.: signs of memory loss, paranoia, and psychological changes. Dr. Alzheimer noted in the autopsy that there was shrinkage in and around nerve cells in her brain.
Since then, there have been many milestones in the field of Alzheimer’s research, and these scientific discoveries have meant more effective treatments and a better quality of life for those with this terrible, yet incredibly common, disease.
November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and in honor of this month, let’s take a look at a few ways you can keep your brain healthy. One little known way? Use hearing aids to treat your hearing loss.
What exactly is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells leads to memory loss and cognitive decline. A neurodegenerative type of dementia, Alzheimer’s starts mild and gets progressively worse.
The statistics about this disease are startling. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and currently more than 5 million Americans are living with this condition. Researchers have projected that by 2050, that number could increase to 16 million. In the US, 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
During the progression of the disease, the brain shrinks in overall size, and irregularities in brain proteins, called “plaques” and “tangles” begin to develop. For a closer look at what happens to the brain in people with this disease, take a look at this interactive slide show created by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s symptoms start out with mild, with low levels of cognitive impairment and become more serious as the disease progresses towards dementia. These symptoms include: a worsened ability to take in and remember new information; impairments to reasoning, complex tasking, and exercising judgment; impaired visuospatial abilities (but not due to eyesight problems); impaired speaking, reading and writing; and changes in personality and behavior.
What are the primary risk factors for developing dementia?
Some risk factors for Alzheimer’s are unavoidable, while others can be potentially avoided or modified.
Unavoidable risk factors
- Age: Alzheimer’s is far more common in older populations; for example, it is more prevalent in people who are 85 or older than in those 65 or older.
- Family history: The second biggest risk factor after age is the inheritance of genes from your family.
- Genetics: People with a specific gene (the apolipoprotein E or APOE gene) have been proven to be three to eight times more at risk than people without the gene. Several other gene abnormalities have recently been found to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Preventable or modifiable risk factors
- Factors that interfere with blood flow to the brain (and increase vascular) risk – including diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
- Low educational and occupational achievement.
- A previous head injury. (A traumatic brain injury does not automatically cause Alzheimer’s, but some research links have been shown, with increasing risk connected to the severity of the injury.
- Sleep disorders (such as the breathing problem sleep apnea.)
- Untreated hearing loss that is moderate to severe has been shown to greatly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s in older populations.
The benefits of treating your hearing loss
The benefits of hearing aids have been firmly established: better relationships, improved confidence in social settings and the workplace, and a better sense of well-being and overall general health.
But something you may not be aware of is that treating hearing loss also helps to actively combat the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Although researchers have not definitively established how hearing loss increases the risk of dementia, they have proven that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can help to lower the chances of developing this debilitating disease. In a comprehensive French study, it was proven that hearing aids lower the risk of cognitive decline in a substantial way. In fact, researchers found that those with hearing loss who wore hearing aids had about the same chance of developing dementia as those with normal hearing.
Take the first step
Hearing aids are now smaller and more effective than ever. Not only will treating your hearing loss increase your overall happiness (and that of your loved ones), it is an important step in protecting the health of your brain. If you have experienced changes in your hearing, the first step is a simple hearing exam. Contact us at Hearing Wellness Solutions today so we can guide you towards better hearing and a happier future.
With today’s technology, finding an effective treatment strategy for your hearing loss is easier than ever. The first step is a simple, painless hearing exam. After that our expert team at Hearing Wellness Solutions will work with you to find the hearing aids that are the best match for your hearing loss and lifestyle. If you have been living with untreated hearing loss, take the first step and schedule your hearing appointment today–it’s one of the most important ways to ensure your happiness and health, now and in the years to come.