A cross-sectional survey asked 1,404 Canadians aged 44 to 97 about awareness of the hearing loss-dementia link, subjective hearing and cognition, and dementia concern. 28% were aware of the link, and 17% of those aware reported being more inclined to seek or continue hearing-loss treatment; awareness and reported behavioural response were more than twice as prevalent in a health-engaged subsample. Awareness was associated with education, dementia concern, older age and female gender, while reported treatment inclination was associated with dementia concern and subjective cognition but not education.
Why it is interesting: Puts a number on how far awareness of a modifiable dementia risk factor has reached the public, and how little self-reported behaviour follows it.