1. Does Tinnitus Increase Your Risk of Dementia?

2. Is There a Link Between Muscle Loss and Dementia?

3. Can Estrogen Help Protect Women Against Dementia?

Tinnitus is a common condition that can affect people of all ages but can worsen as you get older. Research suggests a link between tinnitus and cognitive decline later in life.

Tinnitus is a condition that causes unexplained ringing, buzzing, or roaring sounds. These are phantom and internal noises only, meaning that others around you cannot hear them.

While tinnitus can sometimes affect children, it’s much more common in adults. In fact, it’s estimated that between 10% and 25%Trusted Source of U.S. adults have this condition. Tinnitus may come and go or become chronic if symptoms last for longer than 3 monthsTrusted Source.

Chronic and severe tinnitus can lead to certain health complications. These include depression, anxiety, and fatigue. There’s also growing research suggesting a possible link between tinnitus and dementia.

Read on to learn what researchers have found about the link between tinnitus and dementia.

Is tinnitus linked with dementia?

Emerging research suggests a possible increased risk of developing dementia if you have tinnitus. This is especially true in the case of early onset dementia — dementia that develops in early to middle adulthood.

As one 2021 retrospective studyTrusted Source reported, adult participants with existing tinnitus were 68% more likely to develop early onset dementia. This included adults under the age of 65. This was considered the first study to define such a possible link between these two conditions.

Early signs and symptoms of dementia

Such findings also suggest that, while dementia risk increases with age, it’s possible for younger adults to develop a loss of cognitive abilities. The Alzheimer’s Association outlines 10 possible early signs and symptoms of dementia to look for:

  • progressive memory loss that interferes with your daily activities
  • misplacing items
  • social withdrawal
  • difficulty with problem-solving
  • problems with completing daily tasks
  • loss of place, dates, and time
  • spatial and visual difficulties
  • new issues with writing and talking
  • mood and personality changes
  • poor judgment

Other potential causes of dementia

Like tinnitus, though, dementia doesn’t have a single cause. Genetic variantsTrusted Source are thought to play a role in dementia development, as well as underlying health conditions and lifestyle factors, such as:

Is tinnitus associated with cognitive decline or other impairments?

Aside from dementia, tinnitus is also linked with cognitive decline.

As a more recent 2024 review and meta-analysis found, tinnitus related cognitive effects were also more pronounced in adults over the age of 60. Researchers noted the following complications:

While this review confirmed the results of the previously mentioned 2021 study of cognitive decline in younger adults with tinnitus, the authors here argue that symptoms and complications are much more pronounced in older adults.

However, as another 2023 research reviewTrusted Source notes, the relationship between tinnitus and cognitive impairments isn’t straightforward. Researchers here argue that other underlying issues may co-exist, such as vascular impairment (conditions that affect blood vessels and the brain) and auditory (hearing) problems.

In fact, tinnitus is also known as a risk factor for hearing loss in older adults. This can make it more difficult to have conversations with others and may lead to worsening depression and cognitive decline.

If you have tinnitus, how can you prevent or reduce your risk for dementia or cognitive decline?

If you’re diagnosed with tinnitus, treatment can improve your quality of life while also reducing your risk for dementia and cognitive decline.

Options for treating tinnitus may includeTrusted Source:

Treating hearing loss associated with tinnitus may also help prevent social isolation in older adults. This is another risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.

Also, you can help reduce your risk of developing dementia by adopting healthy lifestyle choices. Consider talking with a doctor about the ways you can:

Takeaway

While research is continuing to explore possible links between tinnitus and dementia, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.

However, if you have chronic tinnitus, it’s worth talking with a doctor about your possible risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline later in life. While there’s currently no cure for tinnitus, there are treatments that can help reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.

At the same time, you may also discuss ways you can decrease your overall dementia risk, for example, by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and treating any underlying medical conditions.

Medically reviewed by Megan Soliman, MD — Written by Kristeen Cherney on June 14, 2024

Is There a Link Between Muscle Loss and Dementia?

There may be links between sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, and dementia. Muscle wasting may lead to cognitive decline, which can be a warning sign of dementia.

Sarcopenia refers to the progressive loss of muscle that can occur later in life. This can affect a person’s memory and thinking abilities.

In some cases, cognitive decline can indicate dementia.

Read on to learn more about the possible link between muscle loss and dementia, as well as how to manage muscle loss and how to identify some early warning signs of dementia.

What is sarcopenia and how is it related to dementia?​

Some research suggests that there are links between sarcopenia and an increased risk of developing dementia.

Sarcopenia refers to the natural loss of muscle that can occur with age. The body loses around 3% to 5% of muscle mass per decade after the age of 30 years, according to the Office on Women’s HealthTrusted Source.

Around 10% to 20% of older adults have sarcopenia. Some common symptoms include:

  • muscle weakness
  • frequent falls
  • walking slowly
  • difficulty doing everyday tasks

Sarcopenia can also lead to cognitive decline, which affects thinking and memory.

Mild cognitive impairment, which refers to some problems with memory and thinking, can indicate that a person may develop dementia. However, not everybody with mild cognitive impairment will develop dementia.

Muscle loss is also not the only cause of mild cognitive impairment. It can also happen due to some medications or sleep problems.

However, some people with muscle loss may develop mild cognitive impairment. In some cases, mild cognitive impairment may lead to dementia.

At what age do muscle loss and dementia begin?

Muscle loss typically begins from around the age of 30 yearsTrusted Source. Muscle loss may happen more quickly after the age of 60 years.

Dementia is more common from the age of 65 yearsTrusted Source. Dementia that develops before this is usually referred to as early onset dementia.

As muscle loss begins from around the age of 30, you may wish to think about taking steps to build muscle as early as possible to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Can building muscle improve or reverse cognitive decline?

A 2020 review suggests that improving muscle strength may help to protect against cognitive decline.

While building muscles and improving strength may not completely protect against problems with memory or thinking, maintaining muscle mass may help to slow down any cognitive decline.

Some tips for building and strengthening muscle include:

  • working with a personal trainer
  • focusing on free weights, such as kettlebells, barbells, and dumbbells
  • trying to do weight training twice per week, with at least 48 hours of rest between sessions
  • leg strengthening exercises, such as:
    • cycling
    • walking up stairs
    • hiking
    • yoga
    • tai chi
  • consuming enough protein

How much protein do older adults need?​

How much protein you need depends on factors such as:

  • weight
  • height
  • age
  • sex
  • activity level

In general, the average adult requires 0.36 grams (g) of protein per pound of body weight.

Harvard Health Publishing explains that a person weighing 165 pounds would therefore require 60 g of protein daily.

Speak with a doctor for more accurate information about how much protein you should aim for per day. The USDA DRI Calculator for Healthcare Professionals can also help, but it is best to speak with a medical professional for more specific advice based on your individual circumstances.

When to contact a doctor

Contact a doctor if you have concerns about muscle loss or sarcopenia. The doctor can advise on ways to manage muscle loss and any complications, including cognitive decline.

As some medications can cause sarcopenia, your doctor may review your current prescription and advise on any changes as necessary.

You should also contact a medical professional if there are any concerns about mild cognitive impairment or dementia. A referral to a specialist can help with diagnosing the conditions and creating a suitable treatment plan.

The bottom line

Muscle loss may indirectly contribute to the development of dementia. This is because muscle loss, or sarcopenia, can increase a person’s risk of cognitive decline. Mild cognitive impairment, or problems with thinking and memory, can lead to dementia in some cases.

Taking steps to build and maintain muscle mass, which can include strength training and consuming enough protein, may help reduce the risk or slow down cognitive decline. However, it may not be possible to completely protect against dementia.

Speak with a doctor for more advice on slowing down muscle loss. It is also important to speak with a doctor as soon as there are concerns about problems with cognitive decline or dementia.

Can Estrogen Help Protect Women Against Dementia?

Researchers at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago revealed some interesting research for women approaching menopause.

New research has found a link between dementia and estrogen levels — the more estrogen a woman receives from pregnancy, for example, the less the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, there’s new evidence that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may affect cognition in some subgroups of women.

“I think it’s very interesting,” said Dr. Verna R. Porter, director of programs for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurocognitive disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California.

What did the study find?

The recent findings reported at the AAIC in July included a large-scale epidemiological investigation in the United States by researchers, including Paola Gilsanz, ScD, staff scientist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, California, and Rachel Whitmer, PhD, a professor at UC Davis.

The team looked at women’s first menstrual period, the number of children they had, and when they started menopause to see what link there may be to dementia risk.

The researchers found that women in the study with three or more children had a 12 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those with only one child.

Also, women who reported having their first menstrual period at 16 or older had a 31 percent greater risk of developing dementia than those who reported having their first period at 13.

And, there was a 28 percent greater dementia risk for women experiencing menopause at 45 or younger compared to women who started after age 45.

How HRT could also affect dementia risk

Another study reported at the conference, from researchers at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and other institutions, found no negative cognitive effect in women who had started hormone therapy between ages 50 and 54.

However, those who started hormone therapy between ages 65 and 79 did show reductions in global cognition, working memory, and executive functioning.

Women on hormone therapy with type 2 diabetes also demonstrated a higher risk of cognitive impairment compared to women without diabetes on hormone therapy and women with diabetes who were given a placebo.

“It may be that it’s critical when you give it,” said Porter regarding determining success or failure of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and adding that risk factors like diabetes may also provide some context in whether to prescribe HRT.

These findings join previous researchTrusted Source which found that estrogen and progestin therapy actually increased the risk for dementia in postmenopausal women 65 years and older.

Porter said the question remains whether estrogen is directly affecting cognitive function or if it’s something else.

She said that women experience an increase in certain immune cells during pregnancy, promoting regulatory T cells.

Alzheimer’s patients have fewer regulatory T cells, which promotes inflammation. Could the T cell increase during pregnancy be involved with the lower dementia risk?

“I think one of the main possibilities that is being postulated based on all these different studies [is] it’s not that it’s female sex hormones on their own,” said Porter.

Instead, it may be that these hormones have additional effects on other factors that influence cognition, said Porter.

What women should think about with hormone therapy

Porter said based on the new findings, there may be some cognitive benefit of hormone replacement therapy when given at the right time.

This could mean giving HRT during the transition into menopause, as long as women don’t have risk factors for dementia, like bad cardiovascular health.

But any decisions about HRT should be based on gynecological history, including menopausal symptoms like hot flashes — not just potential cognitive benefit.

She said it should be something where many factors are taken into account.

“This new information is one important piece of the puzzle,” said Porter.

Dr. William R. Shankle, The Judy & Richard Voltmer endowed chair in memory and cognitive disorders at Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute at Hoag in California, recommends that women get a second opinion if their doctor says to not take estrogen because it’s bad for you.

However, there are certain circumstances when estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can’t be prescribed, including for women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.

“If you are approaching menopause, are in menopause, or have completed it within the past five years, get a gynecologist who is knowledgeable about ERT so you can decide whether to take it,” said Shankle. “If you have not taken ERT and [are] more than five years past menopause, the current science indicates that ERT is not helpful and may increase risk of dementia due to [Alzheimer’s disease] or other causes.”

Dr. Russell Swerdlow, director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center, said there are still no firm answers on the question of whether estrogen can help prevent dementia.

“This [research] adds to the list of reported associations between female hormones, such as estrogen, and cognitive performance,” said Swerdlow. “Associations such as these have spurred interest into the question of whether hormone replacement can benefit cognition.”

Swerdlow pointed out currently “the aggregate of results is not promising” but said that continuing research may eventually help clarify the benefits and risks.

Articles by HEALTHLINE