Serving Washington State
   (253) 838-3454

Send us a Message

Serving Washington State  (253)838-3454

Send us a Message

New Study Shows Hearing Aids May Help Brain Stay Healthier

An important new study out of France reveals something striking: wearing hearing aids may actually help slow cognitive decline among seniors. This study, reported at the blog site of AARP, seems to show a linkage between better hearing and a healthier brain. Click here to access this fascinating article.

The study, recently published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, reportedly followed nearly 3,700 adults age 65 or older for 25 years. A little less than one third (about 1,300 participants) reported moderate to major hearing loss during that period.  According to the research, while the majority of subjects experienced some level of cognitive decline, those with hearing loss who did not wear hearing aids declined at a faster rate. For those who used hearing aids, the rate of decline matched that of subjects with normal hearing.

In other words, the hearing aids seem to slow the rate of cognitive decline. What was going on?

After further analysis, according to the AARP article, the researchers concluded that “hearing loss causes depression and social isolation, which then affect brain health.” The report further stated that, because they help restore communication abilities, “hearing aids may help improve mood, increase social interactions, and enable participation in cognitively stimulating abilities and consequently could slow cognitive decline.”

As with many medical studies, these results are preliminary. Still, the evidence seems to suggest that preserving our hearing as we age is one way to slow the rate of cognitive decline that can adversely affect our quality of life. Since all our clients want to avoid becoming a burden to their loved ones, it’s imperative that we do all we can to preserve our health and our mental faculties.

In the words of the AARP article, “Consider the French study a wake-up call…This study is a strong indication that correcting hearing loss is an important component in keeping your brain in good working order.”

How can you help ensure that you’re getting the best advice for healthy aging? We strongly advise our clients that their personal medical team should always include a geriatrician – a physician who specializes in issues related to aging. This professional can advise you in making health care decisions designed to optimize all aspects of your physical and emotional health – just as we will work with you to optimize all facets of your comprehensive retirement plan. As a first step, why not attend one of our free LifePlanning Seminars? Click on the Upcoming Events tab for locations and dates. We’ll look forward to seeing you there!

Link to blog.aarp.org

http://blog.aarp.org/2015/11/11/study-hearing-aids-may-help-protect-brain-health/

(originally reported at http://blog.aarp.org)

 

Categories

A Washington Resident's Guide to Medicaid Long-Term Care Benefits

Learn the basic rules of Medicaid Long-Term Care in Washington from an expert who has helped thousands of people qualify for these life-saving benefits. Written by elder law attorney Aaron Paker, this easy-to-read book explains the rules in language everyone can understand. If you want straight talk about what benefits are available to pay for long-term care for an elderly loved one, this book is a must-read.

Information about person you are referring

Thank you for thinking of referring a friend or family member to us. The highest accolade you can give us is that of this referral. Rest assured, we will work hard to ensure that your trust in us is well placed.

Refer a Friend

Your information:

Person you are referring:

Penny for Your Thoughts

Send us a message

Header

Congratulations! You are about to begin the process of completing estate planning documents – for free.

Before you get started, you should know that though this service is being provided by Life Point Law, an estate planning firm, by using the free service you will not be creating an attorney-client relationship, and no attorney will review your work. Estate planning can be complicated and generally requires some degree of legal analysis to ensure you have the right provisions. Especially if you have been married more than once, you have a blended family, or you have considerable wealth. We encourage you to seek some guidance, or at the very least, have a legal professional review your work before you call it completed.

Help is available. If you’re interested in getting a second opinion on the legal documents you have created, Life Point Law offers a Peace of Mind review that can put your mind at ease knowing you have dotted all your I’s and crossed all your T’s. Let our skilled attorneys review the legal documents you have created to make sure they meet your goals.

You may also want to drop by our offices to get your documents executed (witnessed and notarized) so they are in full force and effect when they need to be used.

You will receive an email soon with information about how to schedule your Peace of Mind Consultation.

By clicking ‘Start Working on Your Free Estate Plan’ below, you will acknowledge your understanding that no attorney-client relationship exists between Life Point Law and yourself.