Tinnitus and Cognitive Decline

Tinnitus, defined as the perception of sound in the absence of any external stimuli, is a condition which affects a significant number of people worldwide. Although the pathophysiology of tinnitus is not fully understood, hearing loss is known to be a major contributor. To date, many studies have investigated the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function, and hearing loss is now considered a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. In this context, recent studies have investigated whether tinnitus, which is closely associated with hearing loss, is also a risk factor for cognitive decline. However, conflicting results have been reported regarding the relationship between these two conditions. Several studies have reported cognitive decline in tinnitus patients, particularly in areas related to working memory and attention. The consideration of patient age is crucial, as older people seem to be more affected by tinnitus-related cognitive issues. In contrast, some studies have indicated no direct association between tinnitus and cognitive decline, with some even indicating potential cognitive improvement in tinnitus patients. In this article, we review the current research on the relationship between tinnitus and cognitive function and discuss the potential association between these two conditions.