Subjective hearing and memory problems are associated with dementia and cognition in later life.

Introduction: Subjective hearing and memory problems are detectable earlier than objective measures of sensory loss and cognitive decline, which are known to be related to an increased risk of dementia in later life.

Methods: Using a population-representative cohort of 6006 individuals (aged 50-75) we examined whether participants who self-reported hearing and short-term memory issues showed greater rates of dementia within 17 years of follow-up. A sub-cohort was tested for audiometric threshold and cognition after 14 years.

Results: Hearing and memory problems were associated with a greater risk of dementia (hazard ratios [HRs] = 1.42 [95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.81], 1.57 [1.30-1.90]), and poorer cognition 14 years later. The risk was greatest in those reporting both problems (HR = 1.99 [1.42-2.80]). At follow-up, the level of hearing loss was associated with lower cognitive scores.

Discussion: Self-reports of hearing and short-term memory problems are associated with poorer cognitive performance and a greater risk of dementia. Subjective assessments may have predictive power over more than a decade.

Highlights: In a sample of older adults subjective hearing and memory problems were associated with dementia risk.Cross-sectionally, the audiometric screening threshold was associated with cognitive test scores.Subjective sensory and memory loss questions are easy to implement and show good predictive power.