Hearing problems, including ringing in the ears and nerve-related hearing loss, could be early warning signs of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, appearing up to 10 years before a formal diagnosis.
Research published in Alzheimer's & Dementia by scientists at the University of Oulu and the University of Eastern Finland found that people who develop early-onset Alzheimer's, diagnosed before age 65, may experience different health problems as long as 15 years before their diagnosis.
Hearing Problems Double in Years Before Diagnosis
In the six to 10 years before an Alzheimer's diagnosis, people are twice as likely to report hearing problems, such as tinnitus and bilateral sensory neural hearing loss, before serious thinking and memory loss becomes clear.
American healthcare researcher Neal K Shah explained the findings in a recent YouTube video called "10 Dementia Warning Signs You're Missing", reports Wales Online. He said: "Six to 10 years out before the diagnosis - out of all 23 categories - one and only one warning light flashed: Oto rhino laryngological diseases. It's the medical term for ear, nose, and throat conditions. Specifically, it came down to tinitis - a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, a bilateral sensory neural hearing loss, meaning that nerve related hearing loss happens in both ears."
Shah noted that six to 10 years before diagnosis, future patients were more than twice as likely to have those ear conditions, with 4.7% in the study versus 2.1% in controls, climbing to 5.2% versus 2.9% in the final five years.
Two Biological Reasons Behind the Link
Scientists found two biological reasons connecting hearing issues in one's 50s to Alzheimer's a decade later. First, the brain has limited daily processing power, called cognitive reserve. When the inner ear struggles to pick up sound, the brain works overtime to decode speech, stealing energy from memory and thinking centers.
Second, early Alzheimer's plaques and tangles can hit the auditory cortex, the brain's sound processing system, years before they affect memory. Shah said: "Sometimes trouble following conversations or constant ringing in your ears isn't just an ear problem. It's the first subtle echo of your brain sound processing system misfiring."
According to the NHS, dementia is an umbrella term for a syndrome causing ongoing decline in brain functioning, affecting memory, thinking, language, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday activities. It is not a natural part of aging but occurs when diseases or injuries damage nerve cells in the brain.
Other Early Signs and When to Seek Help
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia, affecting roughly two in every three people with the condition in the UK. The number of people living with dementia is forecast to rise to more than 1.4 million by 2040, according to Alzheimer's Research UK.
Common early warning signs include memory loss that disrupts daily activities, difficulty finding the right words, problems planning tasks, confusion about time or place, poor judgement, changes in mood or behaviour, withdrawal from activities, and misplacing items.
Dr Asiya Maula, GP and director at The Health Suite, said: "Many people dismiss the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease as simply getting older, but persistent changes in memory, thinking or behaviour should never be ignored. An early assessment can provide answers, access to support and, in some cases, opportunities to take part in clinical research."
Specialists advise anyone who observes persistent changes in memory or thinking, or who has worries about similar changes in a loved one, to consult their GP. Dr Maula added: "People sometimes wait until symptoms become severe but there is real value in getting assessed early. A diagnosis can help people understand what is happening, access practical and emotional support, plan for the future and discuss available treatments and research opportunities."
