Hearing Aids Stave Off Cognitive Decline
Hearing aids may help maintain better brain functions in older people, and better health overall.
Full Transcript
Tanya Lewis: Hi, this is Your Health, Quickly, a Scientific American podcast series!
Josh Fischman: We highlight the latest vital health news: Discoveries that affect your body and your mind.
Lewis: And we break down the medical research to help you stay healthy. I’m Tanya Lewis.
Fischman: I’m Josh Fischman.
Lewis: We’re Scientific American’s senior health editors.
On today’s show, we’re talking about a surprising way to slow cognitive decline: hearing aids. But unfortunately, most people who need them don’t get them.
[CLIP: Show theme music]
Fischman: Hey, Tanya, I learned a new weird thing about the screwy U.S. health insurance system this week.
Lewis: Oh yeah? What’s that?
Fischman: Health insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids.
Lewis: Not at all?
Fischman: No. Not at all. It often doesn’t cover hearing exams, either.
Lewis: That’s weird, since hearing loss is a medical problem.
Fischman: I know! But I was talking with Lydia Denworth, who writes Scientific American’s Science of Health column, and here’s what she told me.
Lydia Denworth: So the average pair of hearing aids that you would get through an audiologist will run you $4,700. Most private insurance doesn’t cover it. Medicare doesn’t cover it–hearing aids. I mean, it’s crazy.
Fischman: What’s really absurd is that hearing loss makes a bunch of other medical problems worse. So hearing aids could help.
And one of those things they can help with is cognitive decline. That’s actually the reason Lydia and I started talking about this. There’s a really important study that she just found out about.
Denworth: This study was presented in July at the International Meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association. And it was one of their headline studies. This was the first-of-its-kind, randomized trial. And it’s nearly 1,000 adults, older adults between 70 and 84, with untreated hearing loss.
Fischman: About half of the group got hearing aids. And among them, some were already showing some indications of cognitive decline. They were less healthy.
Denworth: The older, less healthy group, the people who got hearing aids slowed the rate of cognitive change by about half.
Lewis
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article discusses the impact of hearing aids on cognitive decline and overall health, which is connected to SDG 3. It also highlights the lack of access to hearing aids, which relates to SDG 10 in terms of reducing inequalities in healthcare. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of addressing hearing loss for maintaining cognitive function, which is relevant to SDG 4 and ensuring quality education for all.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
The article aligns with Target 3.4 by emphasizing the potential of hearing aids to prevent cognitive decline and promote mental well-being in older adults. It also addresses Target 10.2 by highlighting the lack of access to hearing aids and the need to promote inclusion for individuals with hearing loss. Additionally, the article indirectly relates to Target 4.7 by discussing the impact of hearing loss on cognitive abilities and the importance of addressing this issue for sustainable development.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability.
- Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, Indicator 3.4.1 can be used to measure progress towards reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, including cognitive decline. Indicator 10.2.1 can assess the inclusion of individuals with hearing loss by measuring income disparities among different demographic groups. Indicator 4.7.1 can be used to evaluate the integration of education for sustainable development, including addressing hearing loss and cognitive decline, in national education policies and curricula.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. | Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles. | Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: scientificamerican.com
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