Scientists from Korea University found that dysfunction in the vestibular system increases the risk of dementia. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study’s authors examined data from more than 2.3 million Korean adults ages 40 to 80. 141 thousand patients (mean age: 58.52 years) were diagnosed with hearing impairment, and 60.5 thousand patients (mean age: 58.26 years) were diagnosed with disorders in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
Dementia developed in 11.4% of patients with hearing loss and 12.7% of patients with vestibular dysfunction. Of people without these abnormalities, 5.9% developed dementia; This means that the prevalence of dementia is higher in people with hearing and vestibular disorders.
These findings, which show that vestibular loss may increase the risk of dementia, are consistent with findings from at least five studies conducted between 2013 and 2022. Additionally, previous research has confirmed that hearing impairment increases the risk of dementia, but treating it (for example, with a hearing aid) reduces it.
Results to date provide evidence of a correlation between vestibular dysfunction and dementia, but a cause-effect relationship has not been proven. Scientists believe that, hypothetically, the decrease in cognitive functions due to reduced information from the vestibular system and social isolation due to fear of falling may be associated with brain atrophy.
Dementia is a condition accompanied by problems with judgment, speech, memory, mood and social behavior. The vestibular system is the part of the inner ear that helps many animals, including humans, maintain balance. Thanks to its involvement in visuospatial processing, this organ plays an important role in the control of cognitive functions.
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