Cochlear Implants for Hearing Loss and Memory in Older Adults
Official title: The Effectiveness of Cochlear Implants in Real-World Settings for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older Adults with Age-Related Hearing Loss
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11176888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how cochlear implants and hearing aids help older adults with age-related hearing loss and memory concerns in their daily lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $712,224 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085277-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 65 and older with age-related hearing loss, who may or may not have mild cognitive impairment or dementia, and who are either cochlear implant users or hearing aid users.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have age-related hearing loss or are not within the specified age range may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how cochlear implants and hearing aids affect daily performance in older adults with age-related hearing loss, especially those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Researchers will gather real-world data from six groups of individuals aged 65 and older, including those with cochlear implants, those using hearing aids, and those with different levels of cognitive function. The goal is to see if these hearing devices can slow down memory decline or improve daily activities. This work builds on the idea that better hearing might reduce the strain on the brain and help maintain cognitive abilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that improving hearing with cochlear implants or hearing aids can help older adults maintain their cognitive abilities and improve their daily quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked hearing loss to an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that addressing hearing loss could be a promising approach, though real-world effectiveness of implants in this specific context is being further explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dunn, Camille C — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Dunn, Camille C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cochlear implants and hearing aids in older adults with hearing loss to understand links to memory and thinking
This study follows adults 65+ with age-related hearing loss to see how real-world use of cochlear implants or hearing aids relates to thinking skills and progression toward dementia.
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Investigating cochlear implants' effects on cognitive health in older adults with hearing loss
This study is looking at how cochlear implants and hearing aids might help older adults with age-related hearing loss by seeing if these devices can improve their thinking skills and daily life, especially for those who might be at risk of developing dementia.
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Investigating how chronic neurotrauma affects hearing loss and its links to dementia
This study is looking at how brain injuries and hearing loss might be connected and how they could affect memory problems, especially in veterans, to help understand the genetic factors that could influence these issues and improve recovery and cognitive health.
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Insomnia, Depression, and Sleep Medications in Mild Cognitive Impairment Leading to Dementia
This project looks at how sleep problems and depression, along with the medicines used to treat them, may affect the progression from mild cognitive issues to dementia in older adults.
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Stretching their Reach: Robotic Support for Older Adults with Memory Challenges
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Age-related Dementia and Brain Pathology in the Oldest-Old: A Long-Term Lifecourse Study
A large, long-running study is following people aged 90 and up to understand how Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes develop over many years.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.