Loneliness Linked To 24% Higher Risk Of Hearing Loss

Older adults who reported loneliness had a 24% higher risk of hearing loss, according to a recent analysis. The researchers concluded that alleviating loneliness through social enhancement strategies could prevent or delay hearing loss. Loneliness increased the likelihood of hearing loss at all genetic risk levels compared to a reference group of those who were at low genetic risk and who were not lonely.

The researchers noted that although lonely individuals were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as physical inactivity or smoking, those activities did not explain the higher risk of hearing loss. The researchers said socioeconomic . . .