Celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month with a Hearing Test!

With nearly 50 people million people experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, it is no surprise that researchers are fast at work trying to understand more about what causes these conditions, how they might be prevented, and if there is even a possibility of a cure or a way to slow down cognitive decline once it has begun.

With this research underway around the world, the month of September has been set aside to commemorate the research successes that have already occurred, as well as to promote more resources and funding for ongoing research. Another important element of the celebration of World Alzheimer’s Month is to acknowledge the tireless service of those who serve as caregivers for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

By giving their patience, energy, and generosity to these people in cognitive decline, they are truly essential workers in the community. We say a resounding “thank you” to all involved with caring for people who have these conditions, whether they are professional caregivers or loved ones.

What action can you take to celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month this year? One thing you can do is take an inventory of your own risk factors for developing a form of dementia. Researchers around the world have converged to devise a list of 12 key factors linked to higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Although a few of these are beyond your individual control, most of them are linked to lifestyle habits that you can transform. Let’s look specifically at the habits that are linked to higher rates of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Habits Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease

A few of the habits that have a strong link to higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia might come as no surprise. Smoking and excessive drinking both make the list, and those behaviors are connected to a host of other negative health outcomes, as well.

In addition, you can think about the classic habits of diet and exercise as having an indirect connection to higher risk of dementia. Such health conditions as diabetes and hypertension are connected to diet and exercise, so improving your healthy lifestyle habits might have a link to reducing the risk of dementia down the road. Although risk factors such as early childhood education and air pollution might be beyond your individual control, others, such as traumatic brain injury, require preventative attention. Wearing protective gear such as a helmet when you take place in an activity that puts you at risk of a head injury could save you in many ways.

Finally, some habits are directly linked to dementia prevention. Staying in social connections with others keeps your conversational skills sharp, and many people have found that language-based games are helpful, as well. In addition to all these healthy habits, one more task might be the simplest on the list: getting a hearing test.

Getting a Hearing Test as Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention?

You might ask how can getting a hearing test possibly be considered a preventative measure against Alzheimer’s disease? Researchers have discovered a link between hearing loss and dementia, and the connection seems to be a powerful one. Although there is more to learn about the nature of this connection, many believe that spoken language in conversation is the link.

When you have trouble hearing someone speak, you have to strain your brain to put together something meaningful out of the random sounds they seem to emit. This constant struggle might be doing damage to your brain in other ways, even leading to a chain reaction with higher risk of dementia. Where does a hearing test come in?

By understanding your hearing needs and potential hearing loss, our team can discover if hearing aids would be a benefit to you. With hearing aids in place, you can fill in the gaps of language that make communication so difficult. Although research continues in the direct relationship between hearing aid use and dementia prevention, why not get a hearing test rather than waiting for the results to come in?

When you understand your hearing needs, you will be able to get the treatment right for you without doing damage to cognitive ability by waiting too long. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing test!