Hearing Aids May Reduce Dementia Risk by 23% in People with Epilepsy, Study Finds

The use of hearing aids among adults with both epilepsy and hearing loss may be associated with a 23% lower risk of developing dementia, according to researchers from University Hospital Zurich and the University of Liverpool. The findings were presented at the 2026 Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).

The researchers analyzed electronic health records from more than 250 million patients in the international TriNetX database. They compared people with hearing loss who used hearing aids with a matched group of patients with hearing loss who did not use the devices.

The study included both the general population with hearing impairment and patients with conditions known to increase the risk of dementia, including epilepsy, stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, migraine, and osteoarthritis.

Unexpectedly, a statistically significant association was observed only among patients with epilepsy. In this group, hearing aid use was linked to a 23% reduction in dementia risk. Over a five-year period, the absolute risk reduction was 2.7 percentage points, corresponding to one case of dementia prevented for every 37 people using a hearing aid.

No similar association was found in the overall population with hearing loss or among patients with stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, migraine, chronic kidney disease, or osteoarthritis.

According to the researchers, one possible explanation involves the concept of cognitive reserve—the brain's ability to compensate for age-related changes and neurological damage.

The investigators also noted several biologically plausible mechanisms that could explain the finding. Epilepsy itself is associated with accelerated cognitive decline, temporal lobe epilepsy affects brain regions involved in hearing, and some anti-seizure medications may contribute to hearing impairment.

The authors believe the findings could have practical implications for the clinical care of people with epilepsy. Because these patients are routinely followed by neurologists, hearing assessments could easily be incorporated into standard clinical evaluations.

However, the researchers emphasize that the study was observational and does not prove that hearing aids directly prevent dementia. Further prospective clinical studies will be needed to establish a causal relationship.