A recently conducted study has reported that people who suffer from the problem of hearing as they age are at an increased risk of developing dementia later on in life. In the research, scientists have not proved that a loss of hearing causes dementia. But, it has been reported by them that use of hearing aids can reduce the risk of people suffering from the condition.

It needs to be noted that one-tenth of Americans over the age of 70 happen to suffer from some kind of dementia. Scientists have already warned that the number of people suffering from dementia will increase as baby boomers age over the next few years.

Talking about the psychological condition, an Ear Surgeon at the John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Dr. Frank R. Lin, opined that dementia happens to be a very problematic condition. The likelihood of a person developing the ailment doubles with the passage of every two decades.

The latest study by Dr. Lin will appear in the journal known as the Archives of Neurology. The research had received funds from the National Institute of Aging and had followed 600 people over an average time period of 12 years.

It was reported by scientists that people suffering from mild hearing loss were two times at a greater risk of developing the mentally debilitating condition.