Hearing Checks Could Prevent Late-Life Depression

An analysis of health data concerning 5,239 men and women over age 50 revealed that those with mild hearing loss were almost twice as likely to have significant symptoms of depression. Furthermore, the researchers observed that elderly individuals with severe hearing loss were over four times more at risk for depression. The findings suggest that treatment of age-related hearing loss could be one way to head off late-life depression. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, December 2018