Yorkshire study into dementia and hearing

Bradford Royal Infirmary’s Yorkshire Auditory Implant Service (YAIS) is the only UK centre which has been invited to participate in the research, which is taking place throughout Europe and in the Middle East.

Increasing evidence suggest that being able to communicate and socialise can prevent people declining in old age and possibly conditions like dementia.

The announcement of the trial, which comes on World Hearing Day, was healed as “potentially life-changing” by a leading medic.

Ear Nose and Throat surgeon Professor Chris Raine, from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is a fascinating and potentially life-changing study because it has the capacity to uncover whether restored hearing can stave off age-related cognitive conditions like dementia.

“The aim of the research is to find out how cochlear implants can benefit older adults. Previous research projects have shown that having a hearing loss can lead to faster cognitive decline in the adult population, as can having a general anaesthetic in older adults.

“We want to find out if using a cochlear implant can help prevent this rate of cognitive decline amongst adults, aged over 55.”

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that is surgically implanted in a short operation and can provide someone who is deaf or severely hard of hearing with a sense of sound.

Although they cannot restore normal hearing, the implants provide a representation of sounds that allows the patient to understand speech again.

The YAIS has been asked to take part because of its pioneering work of implanting cochlear implants in older people under local anaesthetic, which is safer.

Every month, at least one elderly patient undergoes the procedure and the oldest ever was 91-year-old Charles Holden in 2015.

Jane Martin, head of the YAIS, added: “We are honoured to have been asked to participate in this research run by the Hearring Group. It is a reflection of the pioneering work carried out by our surgeons who are at the forefront of implanting so many elderly adults under local anaesthetic from across the region and beyond.

“Research has proved that local anaesthetics are safer for older people who very often have other co-morbidities and it’s widely known that they can also have an impact on a person’s cognitive decline.

“Being able to hear is a wonderful gift many of us take for granted and evidence is increasingly suggesting that being able to maintain good communication and regular socialising, thanks to being able to hear others, might stop that decline into old age and the onset of the likes of conditions such as dementia.

“Getting out and communicating in groups is vitally important to older people – and if you can’t do this and feel socially isolated then hearing loss can put up huge barriers to people being able to live a fuller life.”

The Bradford team aims to recruit 30 patients over the age of 55 who suffer from severe or profound hearing loss in both ears.

Half of them who go on to have cochlear implants will participate in the research while the doctors will also follow 15 patients who decide not to pursue the operation. Both groups will be assessed over the following two years initially.