{"id":3064,"date":"2022-03-17T21:29:06","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T01:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/?p=3064"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:17:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T19:17:40","slug":"study-finds-unexpected-brain-shrinkage-in-patients-with-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/study-finds-unexpected-brain-shrinkage-in-patients-with-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Finds Unexpected Brain Shrinkage in Patients with Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new study may offer further insight into the connection between hearing loss and dementia.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearing Loss Associated with Changes in Brain <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Doctor<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The study, from The Carle Illinois College of Medicine, analyzed data from the Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Alzheimer\u2019s Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers compared MRIs of people with Alzheimer\u2019s Disease (AD) and hearing loss to those with AD and normal hearing. They discovered a higher incidence of shrinkage in the brainstem and cerebellum<\/a> in patients with both hearing loss and AD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the researchers expected to find differences in the brain scans, the location of the shrinkage was surprising. They had expected participants with hearing loss to exhibit changes to the temporal lobe, as that is where the brain processes language and sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a surprising finding but one that relates to newer studies that link Alzheimer\u2019s Disease with dysfunction in auditory function<\/a> which requires cerebellar activation,\u201d said Susie Kwok, medical student and collaborator on the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hope is that these new findings will be helpful in the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer\u2019s and other forms of dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Dementia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Previous studies have found that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy<\/a> in the brain. This may happen for several reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n