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65/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 65 out of 100. Prevention and risk

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Sample 1 included 1656 participants (mean [range] age, 58.1 [29.7-85.6] years; 903 female [54.5%]), and sample 2 included 935 participants (mean [range] age, 67.6 [60.0-85.6] years; 518 female [55.4%]). Participants with mild or greater hearing loss, compared with those with no or only slight hearing loss, had significantly smaller brain volumes (β [SE], -4.10 [1.76]) and declines in executive function (β [SE], -0.04 [0.01]). Participants with at least slight hearing loss, compared with those with no hearing loss, had significant increases in white matter hyperintensity volume (β [SE], 0.02 [0.01]) and a higher risk of developing all-cause dementia (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.90) over 15 years of follow-up, particularly among those with at least 1 apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (hazard ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.28). Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that midlife hearing loss was associated with smaller brain volumes, accelerated worsening in executive function, and an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that it may be an early marker of brain aging and dementia risk.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Kolo, F. B., Lu, S. F. D. P., Beiser, A. S., Francis, L., van Lent, D. M., Gireud, M., et al. (2025). Hearing Loss, Brain Structure, Cognition, and Dementia Risk in the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.39209

Vancouver

Kolo FB, Lu SFDP, Beiser AS, Francis L, van Lent DM, Gireud M, et al. Hearing Loss, Brain Structure, Cognition, and Dementia Risk in the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA Network Open. 2025. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.39209. PMID: 41191359.

BibTeX

@article{kolo2025-41191359,
  author  = {Kolo, Francis Babaman and Lu, Sophia Francesca DP and Beiser, Alexa S. and Francis, Lily and van Lent, Debora Melo and Gireud, Monica and Himali, Jayandra Jung and Ghosh, Saptaparni and others},
  title   = {{Hearing Loss, Brain Structure, Cognition, and Dementia Risk in the Framingham Heart Study}},
  journal = {JAMA Network Open},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.39209},
  pmid    = {41191359},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.39209}
}

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Key findings

Sample 1 included 1656 participants (mean [range] age, 58.1 [29.7-85.6] years; 903 female [54.5%]), and sample 2 included 935 participants (mean [range] age, 67.6 [60.0-85.6] years; 518 female [55.4%]).
Participants with mild or greater hearing loss, compared with those with no or only slight hearing loss, had significantly smaller brain volumes (β [SE], -4.10 [1.76]) and declines in executive function (β [SE], -0.04 [0.01]).
Participants with at least slight hearing loss, compared with those with no hearing loss, had significant increases in white matter hyperintensity volume (β [SE], 0.02 [0.01]) and a higher risk of developing all-cause dementia (hazard ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.90) over 15 years of follow-up, particularly among those with at least 1 apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (hazard ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.28).
Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that midlife hearing loss was associated with smaller brain volumes, accelerated worsening in executive function, and an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that it may be an early marker of brain aging and dementia risk.

Why it matters

This cohort study found that midlife hearing loss was linked to smaller brain volumes, faster decline in executive function and higher dementia risk over 15 years, especially in people with at least one apolipoprotein E ε4 allele. It suggests hearing loss may be an early marker of brain aging and dementia risk.

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Study details

Study designcohort study
Participants1,656
Effect size54.5%; 55.4%
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 65/100

Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	9 / 10	Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA Network Open)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	JAMA Network Open: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A cohort study following people over time
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	3 / 4	1,656 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	2 / 7	Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	2 / 5	3.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 6.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Sudha S. Seshadri: h-index 148 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	3 / 3	Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41191359)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	65 / 100	—

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