New studies suggest a link between hearing loss and a higher likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease. This research is one of the first to explore whether sensory problems, like hearing difficulties, could increase the risk of Parkinson’s or serve as an early warning sign. According to Parkinson’s UK, there are around 153,000 people living with Parkinson’s disease in the UK, marking it as the fastest-growing neurological disorder worldwide.
A study from Lancaster University indicates a potential connection between hearing loss and a greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
This research investigates if sensory challenges, such as hearing impairment, could potentially heighten the risk of Parkinson’s or signal its early signs.
Parkinson’s UK reports that about 153,000 individuals in the UK are affected by this condition, which is identified as the fastest-growing neurological disorder across the globe. The chance of receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis in the UK during one’s life is approximately 1 in 37.
The research, titled “Speech-in-noise hearing impairment is associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s: A UK Biobank Analysis,” has been published in Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.
Researchers looked at data from the UK Biobank, which includes biomedical data from half a million participants within the UK. They concentrated on the information of 159,395 individuals who had undergone a hearing test to evaluate their ability to comprehend speech in noisy environments, all of whom had not been diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the time of testing.
Over an average follow-up period of 14.24 years, 810 individuals received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. The study found that each 10-decibel increase in initial hearing impairment was linked to a 57% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s.
The study was led by Dr. Megan Readman, an ESRC Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University.
She noted, “These findings are highly significant; this is one of the first studies to investigate how hearing loss may elevate the risk for Parkinson’s or act as an early indicator of the condition.”
“Furthermore, our results show a strong association between hearing impairment and Parkinson’s, suggesting that it might be beneficial to focus on hearing health when diagnosing and treating patients with hearing difficulties.”
Dr. Readman also mentioned that the exact nature of the relationship between hearing loss and Parkinson’s is still uncertain—whether one condition triggers the other, or if both arise from a shared underlying issue.
“We currently lack clarity on whether hearing impairment can lead to the emergence of Parkinson’s, or if both are influenced by a common underlying cause.”
Other researchers involved in this study included Yang Wang, Fang Wan, Sally Linkenauger, Trevor Crawford, Christopher Plack, and Ian Fairman, who experiences both Parkinson’s and hearing loss.
Professor Plack remarked, “It is becoming increasingly clear that hearing loss is not an isolated issue but is connected to several other disorders. Understanding these links is crucial for delivering adequate patient care and improving the quality of life for those impacted.”
This research aims to explore factors like hearing impairment to develop new prevention and care strategies for Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Readman concluded, “Our study highlights a complex relationship between hearing loss and Parkinson’s, underscoring the need to address hearing health in diagnosing and managing Parkinson’s.”
Professor Trevor Crawford added, “This important research contributes to a decade of studies on neurodegenerative disorders, carried out by our team at Lancaster University in collaboration with partners throughout the UK.”
