Using hearing aids to help protect memory and thinking in people with early hearing loss
Early Age-Related Hearing Loss Investigation (EARHLI): A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Mechanisms Linking Early Age-Related Hearing Loss and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11178762
This trial will test whether providing hearing-aid based support to people aged 55–75 with early hearing loss and mild memory problems can slow memory decline and related brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11178762 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join other adults ages 55–75 who have early-stage age-related hearing loss and amnestic mild cognitive impairment and be randomly assigned to a hearing aid–based intervention or usual care. Study staff will track your memory and thinking with standardized tests, collect information on social engagement and daily functioning, and likely perform brain imaging and other measurements to see how hearing support affects brain connections. The team aims to link changes in hearing and social activity to changes in cognition and brain organization. Participation will focus on people with borderline-to-moderate hearing loss (about 20–55 dB) that often goes untreated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 55–75 years old with early (borderline-to-moderate, ~20–55 dB) age-related hearing loss and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
Not a fit: People without age-related hearing loss, those with advanced dementia or non-amnestic cognitive problems, or those with severe/profound hearing loss outside the targeted range may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, using hearing aids in this group could slow memory decline and reduce the chance of progressing toward dementia by improving hearing, social engagement, and brain function.
How similar studies have performed: Observational studies link hearing loss to dementia risk and small trials suggest hearing aids can improve social engagement, but large randomized trials testing whether hearing aids slow cognitive decline are limited and this approach is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GOLUB, JUSTIN SCOTT — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: GOLUB, JUSTIN SCOTT
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia