Hearing treatment and longer-term brain health in older adults
Long-term effects of hearing intervention on brain health in the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) randomized study
This project looks at whether treating hearing loss with hearing aids and training can slow thinking and memory problems in people aged 70–84.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172478 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a long-term follow-up of the ACHIEVE trial where nearly 1,000 adults aged 70–84 with untreated mild-to-moderate hearing loss were randomly assigned to receive best-practice hearing services and technologies plus rehabilitative training or to a successful aging education program. Participants have been seen every six months and have cognitive testing and brain-health measures collected over several years. The hearing intervention includes fitting hearing aids and training to use them, while the control group received one-on-one healthy aging education. The goal is to find out whether the hearing treatment leads to less cognitive decline and lower risk of dementia over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 70–84 with untreated mild-to-moderate hearing loss who are willing to attend semiannual study visits.
Not a fit: People without hearing loss, those already using hearing aids, younger adults, or those with severe hearing impairment that requires different care may not benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could mean hearing treatment helps slow cognitive decline and reduce dementia risk in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Observational studies link hearing loss to higher dementia risk and smaller trials suggest benefits from treating hearing, but large randomized trials like ACHIEVE are only now producing definitive evidence.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deal, Jennifer Anne — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Deal, Jennifer Anne
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 below.