Hearing Aids Did Not Significantly Reduce Dementia-Level Impairment in Older Adults With MCI

A multicenter, open-label randomized trial in Shanghai, China, evaluated whether hearing aids could reduce progression to dementia-level impairment in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and moderate to severe hearing loss. Investigators assigned 703 adults aged 60 years or older to hearing aids (353 participants) or hearing care education (350). The primary endpoint was progression from a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score of 0.5 to at least 1 over 24 months.

Overall, 610 participants (86.77%) completed the trial. Dementia-level impairment occurred in 3.09% of the intervention group versus 4.74% of controls; the reported relative risk was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.25–1.38; P = .23). In a prespecified secondary analysis, improvement to CDR 0 occurred in 15.34% versus 2.36%, respectively, with a reported relative risk of 5.94 (95% CI, 2.46–14.37). No study-related adverse events were reported.

The findings do not establish that hearing aids prevent dementia-level impairment over two years, although the secondary outcome suggests possible cognitive benefit. Interpretation should account for the open-label design, incomplete follow-up, and wide confidence interval for the primary outcome. Only the abstract was available; its reported risk differences and relative risks do not directly match the displayed event percentages, and the analytical basis requires clarification.