Healthy ones, that is. Never before has there been more interest in
"brain training". My
mother-in-law turned me on to "Lumosity" a year ago. I have to admit, I was skeptical. But I was also intrigued....could I preserve
my brain function? Could I stave off
dementia? We all know that we need to
exercise our bodies for better health, but exercise our brain?
And what's the difference between
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia? Both
terms seem to be used interchangeably.
Dementia is defined by the Alzheimer's Organization as a term used to
describe a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other
thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday
activities. According to Alzheimer's
Disease International, Alzheimer's disease is a FORM of dementia that destroys
brain cells and nerves disrupting the transmitters, which carry messages in the
brain.
Recent studies are suggesting a connection
between hearing loss and dementia. The
relationship is being studied by Johns Hopkins University as well as other
institutions. Research
which was published in the Archives of Neurology, found that seniors with
hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than
those who retain their hearing. The
study also found that the greater the hearing loss, the higher their likelihood
of developing dementia.
At my national Audiology convention in
April I attended multiple classes which presented research on the association
of untreated hearing loss and dementia.
Although they are still studying the relationship, the underlying
connection seems to be ISOLATION.
According to a Johns Hopkins study on hearing loss and cognitive
function, isolation is a known risk factor for dementia. When people have hearing loss, they become
uncomfortable in social situations because they often can't hear and/or
understand what people are saying. Their
hearing difficulties cause them to respond incorrectly or miss the punch-line
of a joke. Social situations often
involve large groups of people and poor acoustics which makes hearing more
difficult than usual. Sadly their
solution is to withdraw from situations where they have trouble hearing. No more parties, dinner with friends, bridge
club or church.
The same Johns Hopkins study, stated that
the reason for the link between the two conditions is unknown, but
investigators suggest that a common pathology may underlie both or that the
strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people
with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia.
In fact, the symptoms of untreated hearing
loss and Alzheimer's Disease are extremely similar. As we learn more about how the brain works,
we may be able to prevent all forms of dementia, but for now we need to do
whatever it takes to reduce the isolation which seems to be a factor. So get your hearing tested! Wear your hearing aids faithfully! And stay with the group! Preserve your brain and who knows, maybe a
zombie may be interested in it. You too
could be zombie bait.....
