“Knowledge is Power. Knowledge Shared is Power Multiplied.”
—Robert Boyce
Recognizing Better Hearing is Better Healthcare; we purposefully share reputable education which motivates you to make well-informed decisions. While this essential goal relates to many comorbidities such as diabetes, vision loss, tinnitus and the risk of falls, it is crucial with respect to Alzheimer’s disease and the dementia epidemic.
Starting with Why, these stunning statistics speak for themselves: An estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2022. Seventy-three percent are age 75 or older.
- About 1 in 9 age 65 and older (10.7%) has Alzheimer’s.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
- Older Black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older Whites.
- Older Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older Whites.
As the number of older Americans grows rapidly, so too will the number of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s may grow to a projected 12.7 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure Alzheimer’s disease.
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
To gain perspective, please invest a few moments to view this emotive video:
Recognizing The Early Stages of Dementia
As this debilitating disease’s prevalence grows, so does our knowledge about Signs & Symptoms to watch for, with loved ones and ourselves.
Before focusing on crucial research, we discuss risk reduction in general. With many things in life, we are encouraged to change behaviors in ways that reduce risks. Wearing seatbelts, not texting while driving, avoiding smoking and more physical activity to name a few. In the realm of brain health and function, how do we minimize risks? Let’s learn why consistent auditory (sound) stimulus is healthy exercise for your brain. In fact, Ear to Brain is A Vital Domain™.
With a growing body of research, often complex in its scientific nature, it is challenging to know which to pay attention to and key takeaways. For these reasons, like a museum curator who decides which works of art to display, we are dedicated to identifying peer-reviewed literature worthy of your close attention.
One of the most highly regarded and peer-reviewed medical research resources is the European based The Lancet journal which is committed to applying scientific knowledge to improve health and advance human progress.”
“Lancet journals have extensive global reach with more than 84 million annual visits on TheLancet.com and 141 million downloaded articles across TheLancet.com and ScienceDirect.” The point is, when The Lancet research speaks, people globally listen. We should too.
In 2017, Lancet published a landmark paper entitled: “Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care.” Extensive study over many years identified nine crucial risk factors that if completely eliminated, may reduce dementia’s negative impact by approximately 35% in terms of decreasing risk, delaying onset and reduced severity. In rank order, they are:
- Hearing Loss
- Educational Level
- Smoking
- Depression
- Physical Activity
- Social Isolation
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Remarkably, not only is Hearing Loss the single most important modifiable risk factor, but almost 70% of potential case and impact reduction includes, or relates to, hearing loss.
Given this vital knowledge, it is clearly important for you and loved ones to hear your best. According to reputable research, being happy to hear may have the additional benefit of reducing dementia-related risks. As you think about periodic visits to your primary care doctor, dentist, eye doctor and other medical specialists, taking care of your ears can add life to your years. We appreciate your trust and all opportunities to be of service. Indeed, improving your quality of life is our passion. May we see you soon?
