Are you worried about Alzheimer’s Disease? Does it run in your family or have you just been finding it harder to remember things more and more often? It’s normal to be concerned, especially as we age. September is a great time to start asking questions because you are likely to get answers. This and every September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an annual campaign, led by Alzheimer’s Disease International with the goal of raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease Explained

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease, grouped with other forms of Alzheimer’s, which affect two or more cognitive functions. In the case of Alzheimer’s, it often begins as short-term forgetfulness and slowly progresses to loss of social function, the ability to complete everyday tasks and even the loss of some long-term memories. No one knows exactly why or who will be affected by Alzheimer’s disease, but it is identified by the buildup of amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangles which suffocate and slowly destroy brain cells and tissue. It can be just as devastating for loved ones as it is for those affected as they are tasked with providing around the clock support. This results in full time nursing support or unpaid labor from family and friends, an estimated cost globally of 1.3 trillion dollars!

Currently there are an estimated 6.5 million people in the US diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and as life expectancy increases, this number is believed to rapidly rise. Understanding what Alzheimer’s Disease is and what factors make it more likely give us a chance to change our behaviors now, to lower our chances later of living with this devastating disease.

Addressing Risk Factors of Hearing Loss

There are several factors which contribute to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Some of these can’t be changed such as being older than 65 and family history, which alone increases the risk on top of other risk factors by 30 percent! If Alzheimer’s is in your family then it’s important to take extra care to focus on reducing risk factors you can control This includes eating a healthy diet which promotes heart health, staying active and addressing comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. Other ways to reduce your risk include staying social, constantly challenging your brain with the pursuit of new ideas and addressing any potential hearing loss.

Hearing Loss and Alzheimer’s

Many people wouldn’t ever guess just how connected brain health and hearing loss is but once you understand the nature of how we hear, it makes more sense. We collect sound with our ears, but it’s tiny cells in the inner ear which transform those sounds into electrical impulses sent to the brain. In the brain is where sounds are identified, and speech is processed. However, when these cells are damaged due to various causes such as exposure to loud sounds, certain medications, impact to the head, infections or even heart disease and hypertension, certain sounds can no longer reach the brain.

The brain suffers from a degree of sensory of deprivation as certain sounds can’t be received any longer. This requires people with hearing loss to constantly fill in the blanks in words and sentences, making every day social interactions completely exhausting. It’s all too often for those who suffer from hearing loss to slowly over years to avoid social interactions more and more. Eventually, people with unaddressed hearing loss become chronically depressed as lack of socialization and communication barriers start to cause chronic depression and feeling of overriding loneliness.

Celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month with a Hearing Test

Lack of socialization is one of the greatest risks facing Alzheimer’s Disease, but so is the lack of activity which inevitably comes with lack of socialization. Quickly it becomes that addressing a hearing loss is a significant way that you can fight Alzheimer’s Disease on a personal level. This September, take your health into your own hands. The first step is to schedule a hearing exam with us today. We can diagnose the degree of hearing loss you have and find the best solution to keep your mind sharp and keep you staying active for years to come. Contact us today!