Tip to prevent late-life depression

Business Standard: A recent study has found a link between age-related hearing loss and depression.

The findings suggest the greater the hearing loss in elderly individuals, the greater the risk of having depressive symptoms. Thus, the treatment of age-related hearing loss could be one way to head off late-life depression.

The study was published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

"Most people over age 70 have at least mild hearing loss, yet relatively few are diagnosed, much less treated, for this condition," said lead author Justin S. Golub. "Hearing loss is easy to diagnose and treat, and treatment may be even more important if it can help ease or prevent depression."

Age-related hearing loss is the third-most common chronic condition in older adults. The condition is known to raise the risk of other conditions, such as cognitive impairment and dementia. But there are few large studies asking whether hearing loss may lead to depression in the elderly -- particularly in Hispanics, a group in which depression may be under diagnosed because of language and cultural barriers.

The researchers analysed health data from 5,239 individuals over age 50 who were enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Each participant had an audiometric hearing test -- an objective way to assess hearing loss -- and was screened for depression. BS