Listen up — your brain health might depend on it. 

New research suggests that a single device can dramatically reduce your dementia risk, but only if you get one before the age of 70.

The results emerge amidst an increase in dementia diagnoses across the country, with projections indicating that the number of Americans living with this debilitating memory condition could double by 2060.

The device that can make a difference? A simple hearing aid.

Scientists examined 2,953 adults participating in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term research project that has monitored heart and brain health in numerous individuals since the 1940s.

Initially, these participants were 60 or older and had no signs of dementia. They underwent hearing assessments between 1977 and 1998, and researchers tracked them for as long as two decades to identify who eventually developed dementia.

Over the follow-up period, 583 people — about 20% — developed dementia.

The biggest brain boost was seen in people who started wearing hearing aids in their 60s. They had a whopping 61% lower risk of dementia compared to those with hearing loss who never used the devices.

People in their 60s with normal hearing also had a 29% lower risk than those with untreated hearing loss.

But once participants hit age 70, hearing aids didn’t offer much protection.

“Managing hearing loss during midlife — improving hearing with the use of a hearing aid — could help protect the brain and reduce risk of dementia,” Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a behavioral neurologist and co-author of the study, told MedPage Today.

Hearing loss and the link to memory

The new study adds to a growing body of evidence that hearing aids may also lend a hand to your brain.

In one 2023 study, hearing aids cut cognitive decline by nearly 50% over three years in adults aged 70 to 84 who were already at high risk for dementia. They also saw major improvements in communication.

Scientists are still digging into exactly why hearing aids seem to help, but a few theories are already making noise.

When hearing fades, your brain works harder to fill in the blanks. That constant mental strain can take a toll on memory and thinking ability, according to UCLA Health.

Hearing loss has also been shown to speed up brain shrinkage with age, a process already linked to cognitive decline.

Social isolation may play a role, too. Older adults with hearing loss tend to withdraw from conversations and social settings, which means less mental stimulation — another potential dementia risk factor.

Experts say the link between hearing loss and dementia could be a golden opportunity for early intervention.

Making hearing aids more accessible

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition in the US, behind arthritis and heart disease. Nearly 27 million Americans over 50 are affected, but just one in seven use a hearing aid, according to Johns Hopkins.

Even among those who do, the average user waits about 10 years before seeking help. During that time, communication breaks down, relationships suffer, and the risks of depression, isolation and cognitive decline climb.

But things might be shifting. In 2022, the FDA approved a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy them directly in stores or online — no prescription, no audiologist required.

The move was aimed at making hearing care cheaper and easier to access, tackling two of the biggest reasons millions avoid getting help. Now, it may be good news for the brain too.

A January study found Americans over 55 face a 42% lifetime risk of developing dementia, with new cases expected to reach one million per year by 2060 without major intervention.

That’s a wide reaching problem, as dementia’s impact extends beyond memory loss. The disease increases the risk of a range of physical and mental health issues, including infections, falls, cardiovascular problems, malnutrition and depression.