This Combination May Speed Up Memory Decline in Older Adults: Study Finds - Video

A new study by researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), published in Communications Psychology, highlights a concerning link between hearing impairment, loneliness, and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults. Analyzing data from over 33,000 individuals across 12 European countries, the research shows that those who experience hearing loss and also report feeling lonely even if they aren’t socially isolate are at a significantly higher risk of memory deterioration.

According to the World Health Organization, over 25% of people above age 60 live with disabling hearing loss, and this number is expected to rise dramatically by 2050. Hearing difficulties can lead to isolation, communication barriers, and reduced alertness, which not only disrupt daily life but may also increase the risk of cognitive disorders like dementia. To explore this link further, the UNIGE research team examined how hearing loss and various forms of loneliness jointly affect memory.

The researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a large-scale longitudinal study tracking adults over 50 since 2002. Participants regularly underwent cognitive assessments, including memory tests, while providing information on their social connections and personal feelings of loneliness.

The team identified three distinct profiles: people who are both socially isolated and feel lonely; those who are not socially isolated but still feel lonely; and those who are socially isolated but do not feel lonely. They found that cognitive decline was particularly pronounced in individuals who were not socially isolated but still reported loneliness and had hearing loss.

The study emphasizes the importance of early and preventive hearing care, particularly for emotionally vulnerable groups. “These individuals are already socially integrated, so it's a matter of removing a sensory barrier in order to reinforce their engagement and protect their cognitive health,” said lead author Charikleia Lampraki.

Reference: Charikleia Lampraki, Sascha Zuber, Nora Turoman, Emilie Joly-Burra, Melanie Mack, Gianvito Laera, Chiara Scarampi, Adriana Rostekova, Matthias Kliegel, Andreas Ihle. Profiles of social isolation and loneliness as moderators of the longitudinal association between uncorrected hearing impairment and cognitive aging. Communications Psychology, 2025; 3 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00277-8