Hearing loss has been identified as the single largest potentially-modifiable risk factor for dementia. Hypothesized mechanisms linking hearing and dementia include adverse effects of hearing loss on cognitive load, brain structure/function, and social isolation. These mechanisms suggest that hearing intervention (e.g., hearing aids and related audiological services) could plausibly modify these pathways and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This talk will summarize the main results of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study which is the first randomized controlled trial (n=977) that has investigated the effects of hearing intervention versus control on 3-year rates of cognitive decline among healthy, community-dwelling older adults (www.AchieveStudy.org).

Learning Objectives:

• To describe current scientific knowledge on the association between hearing loss with cognitive decline and dementia
• To describe the rationale and design of the ACHIEVE trial
• To describe the main results and limitation of the ACHIEVE trial