A new study published in the journal Brain Sciences by scientists from King Khalid University suggests that chronic tinnitus in older adults may be a potential indicator or risk factor for cognitive impairment. This cross-sectional study found a correlation between tinnitus and cognitive decline.
Imagine that your phone is constantly ringing in your pocket, even though it's not actually there. This is roughly what people with tinnitus experience – a constant noise in their ears (ringing, whistling, humming), which only they can hear. Scientists suggest that if an elderly person has such a constant noise, this may be the first sign, or “red flag”, that they may later have problems with memory, concentration or general thinking (these are cognitive impairments). That is, tinnitus here acts as an indicator (a clue) or a risk factor (something that increases the likelihood). It is important to understand that the study only found a correlation – this means that tinnitus and thinking problems often occur together, like two girlfriends who always walk side by side, but one of them is not necessarily the cause of the appearance of the other. This was a cross-sectional study, that is, the scientists “looked” at the situation at one specific point in time, took a kind of “snapshot” of the state of people.
The study involved 240 people over the age of 60, half of whom suffered from tinnitus. These participants were more likely to have hearing problems, depression, and poor sleep quality. Tests showed that people with tinnitus scored significantly lower on memory and cognitive functions than those without the symptom.
The researchers found that those with tinnitus were more likely to have other problems: they had worse hearing, were more likely to suffer from depression, and slept worse. And most importantly, when these people were given special tasks to test their memory and general thinking, those with tinnitus performed significantly worse than those without the noise. This shows a clear difference between the two groups.
The researchers noted that higher severity and duration of tinnitus correlated with lower cognitive test scores. For example, each ten-point increase in the Tinnitus Fibrosis Index (TFI) was associated with a decrease in memory and thinking tests.
The scientists found that the more severe and unpleasant the tinnitus was (measured using a special Tinnitus Severity Index, or TFI, which assesses how much noise affects daily life) and the longer a person had lived with it (duration), the worse their results were on tests of memory and logical thinking. That is, if the noise was very intrusive or lasted for many years, the likelihood of brain problems was higher. They even calculated that an increase in noise discomfort by every 10 points on this scale already showed a noticeable decrease in thinking ability. This reinforces the idea of correlation, that is, the stronger one characteristic, the worse the other.
The authors emphasize that tinnitus may serve as a potential early indicator or risk factor for cognitive decline in older adults. They suggest that this may warrant more thorough evaluation, including cognitive screening, for patients with chronic tinnitus. However, the researchers emphasize that further, long-term (longitudinal) studies are needed to definitively establish cause-and-effect relationships and confirm these findings.
So, scientists conclude that tinnitus may be a kind of “bell” – an early warning or sign that an elderly person may start having problems with memory and thinking. This means that if someone complains of constant tinnitus, a doctor may advise him to undergo additional tests to make sure that everything is fine with his brain functions (memory, attention). Such a quick check is called cognitive screening. But it is very important to remember: so far these are just assumptions and observations. To say for sure whether the noise causes problems with the brain, or whether they simply coincide (this is a cause-and-effect relationship), much longer studies are needed. It is like watching not one photo, but a whole movie about people's lives – long-term (longitudinal) studies, when scientists will observe the same people over many years. This will help confirm or refute these conclusions.
