You know the feeling…a lively dinner conversation becomes impossible to follow. Headlights throw blinding halos across your windshield. Maybe you begin to skip dinner out or avoid evening trips altogether. These changes may do more than affect your social calendar. They could be affecting your brain health, too. 

Researchers have found that when vision or hearing problems go untreated, your risk for memory and thinking difficulties may increase over time. The upside is that these are often fixable issues. Taking action now not only improves your ability to connect with others, but it may also help lower your risk of dementia later on. 

Why Your Senses Matter to Your Brain 

Large, long-running studies link untreated vision or hearing loss with a higher chance of cognitive decline. When your eyes or ears do less of the sensing, your brain has to do more of the guessing. That extra strain makes conversations exhausting. This can lead to you spending less time with friends, being less physically active, and getting poorer sleep. Over months and years, those patterns pile up. 

And the reverse is also true. Correcting vision problems and treating hearing loss earlier support clearer communication, safer movement, and more engagement in life. 

A Clearer View of Vision 

Decades of research point in the same direction.  When your vision isn’t corrected, your risk for cognitive decline and dementia increases. In fact, a large review of studies in 2022 confirmed that impaired vision is linked to a higher chance of both. Scientists now consider untreated vision problems a modifiable risk factor. You have the power to take action. 

Why does eyesight matter for brain health? When you can’t see clearly, your brain works overtime to process visual information. This can drain your mental energy and may lead you to pull back from social activities. Both of these hurt your thinking abilities over time. 

Cataracts deserve special attention. They cloud your eye’s natural lens, creating glare, halos around lights, and trouble seeing at night. But when you correct vision problems like cataracts through glasses or surgery, that extra dementia risk largely disappears. Your sleep may also improve after cataract surgery because a clear lens allows blue light to reach the cells in your eyes that set your body clock. Clearer sight helps you stay active, manage medication, recognize faces, and enjoy hobbies that keep your mind sharp. 

The Hearing-Memory Connection 

Just like vision loss, hearing loss is common but often goes untreated. Research consistently links untreated hearing loss with higher dementia risk. 

When you struggle to hear, a few things happen that affect your brain. Your brain has to burn mental resources trying to decode muffled sounds, which can leave you feeling drained. You might also start to avoid conversations and social situations, leading to isolation. Finally, your brain receives less auditory input, which may contribute to faster changes in its structure. 

A major Danish study followed nearly 573,000 adults for nine years. People with hearing loss had a modestly higher dementia risk. Severity mattered. Worse hearing meant higher risk. But here’s the key finding: people who used hearing aids had lower risk levels, much closer to those without hearing loss. 

This tells us that untreated hearing loss carries the highest risk, while getting help through hearing aids can narrow that gap significantly. 

Despite these advantages, only about 30% of Americans who need hearing aids actually use them. Cost gets in the way. So does access and lack of ongoing support. The global Lancet Commission identifies hearing loss as one of the top modifiable dementia risk factors worldwide. 

Experts stress that hearing care improves conversation, safety, and mood.  

When Both Senses Slip, Risk Increases 

Both hearing and vision naturally change as you age. A study of over 7,500 people, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that vision problems nearly doubled dementia risk, while hearing problems alone also showed a small increase. However, the combination of both impairments carried the highest dementia risk both immediately and over seven years of follow-up. That’s a strong reason to screen both senses and to treat both, when possible. 

Steps That Help Today and Tomorrow 

These practical tips improve your daily experience right away and may support your brain health over time. 

Get Regular Check-ups 

For your eyes:  

Schedule comprehensive eye exams regularly. If you’re experiencing glare, seeing halos around lights, or struggling with night driving, ask specifically about cataracts. Correcting vision problems—particularly cataracts—consistently corresponds with lower future dementia risk. 

For your hearing:  

Get a baseline hearing test and repeat it every one to two years. If hearing loss appears, explore hearing aids and commit to proper fitting and follow-up care. Ask about simple tools that pair with hearing aids, such as TV streamers, which send TV audio straight to your hearing aids, or small clip-on microphones for group settings. People who address hearing loss earlier tend to maintain better function and may reduce their long-term risk. 

Make Your Environment Work for You 

Small changes can make a real difference. Start with sight, then tackle sound. A few quick tweaks can cut strain and make each day easier. 

Make it easier to see: 

  • Add brighter task lighting where you read, take medications, or cook. 
  • Use large-print labels and high-contrast markings on steps and appliance controls. 
  • Ensure adequate lighting in your hallways and stairways. 
  • Adjust the text size on your smartphone, computer, and other devices. 

Make it easier to hear: 

  • Face people when you’re speaking with them. 
  • Reduce background noise during conversations. 
  • Use captions on your television and tablet. 
  • Choose restaurants and social spaces with quieter corners. 
  • Ask about seating that places your better-hearing ear toward the speaker. 

Ask Your Care Team to Connect the Dots 

Talk with your healthcare providers about any vision or hearing changes when they are evaluating your memory. Some cognitive tests are harder if you cannot see or hear instructions clearly. 

Ask your primary care provider, eye doctor, audiologist, and any memory specialist to share notes. This teamwork prevents confusion and ensures everyone understands your complete health picture. 

If you live in a senior community or receive in-home support, request routine checks of glasses and hearing devices, quieter activity spaces, and a point person who can help with basic device care. 

Keep Up with Overall Brain Health 

Sensory care works best alongside other healthy habits. Each step supports your brain and your quality of life. Continue to: 

Prevention research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine estimates that roughly 40% of dementia cases worldwide are connected to modifiable risk factors like these, with hearing loss ranking among the most important contributors. 

Set Realistic Expectations 

The link between untreated sensory loss and dementia is strong in many studies, and caring for your vision and hearing will improve your life right away. While clinical trials are still working to clarify exactly who benefits most from these modifiable factors, it’s important to know that no one can promise prevention for every person. 

What you can count on is this: taking care of your vision and hearing can improve your mood, safety, and ability to connect with others today. It may also help your brain in the long run. 

Reach Out for Help 

If you have new memory concerns or simply want to establish a baseline, contact Charter Research about free memory screenings and current clinical trials in Central Florida or Chicago. 

Patient volunteers are essential to advancing research and expanding future care options. We’re here to answer your questions and to help you find the next steps that are right for you. Give us a call. We’d love to talk to you.

You can also fill out the form on this page, and one of our representatives will call you within 24 hours (excluding weekends & holidays).