Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41206658›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2026

The association between hearing impairment and incident depression in older adults: a longitudinal analysis.

Malcolm P Forbes, Mark W Cox, Katharine Brewster, Mojtaba Lotfaliany, Mohammadreza Mohebbi, Gary Rance, Robyn L Woods, Carlene Britt, John J Mcneil, Michael Berk

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Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Malcolm P ForbesThe Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8339-6471
Mark W CoxBarwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0009-0008-6404-8691
Katharine BrewsterDepartment of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-4011-7206
Mojtaba LotfalianyThe Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Mohammadreza MohebbiThe Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Gary RanceDepartment of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Robyn L WoodsSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1249-6149
Carlene BrittSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
John J McneilSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1049-5129
Michael BerkThe Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5554-6946

Funding

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the ElderlyU01AG029824 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES, MURRAY, ANNE M · 2009 to 2018
$64.6M
Main Administrative CoreU19AG062682 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MURRAY, ANNE M · 2019 to 2023
$42.9M
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia 1081901National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia 1127060National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia 334047NIA NIH HHS U01 AG029824NIA NIH HHS U19 AG062682NIH HHS U01AG029824NIH HHS U19AG062682
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHearing loss (HL) is common in older adults and is associated with several adverse health outcomes. Although previous research has demonstrated a link between hearing impairment and depression, most studies have been cross-sectional or relied on a single baseline measure of hearing. To investigate the association between longitudinal, time-varying audiometric measures of hearing and incident depression in older adults. A secondary aim was to assess whether hearing aid use modifies this association over time in those with moderate to severe HL.

methodsWe included 1260 participants who underwent pure-tone audiometry at baseline, 18 months, and 36 months. Depression was defined using the CES-D-10 scale, with a cut-score of ≥8. Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to examine the link between hearing status (normal, mild HL, moderate/severe HL) and depression, adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables.

resultsOver a median follow-up of 7.3 years, participants with moderate to severe HL had a higher risk of incident depression (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.24; 95% CI, 1.08-1.43, P < 0.01) compared with participants with normal hearing. Hearing aid use (≥6 h self-reported use per day on average) in those with moderate to severe HL was associated with significantly reduced risk of incident depression (aHR: 0.65; 95% CI, 0.49-0.87, P < .01).

conclusionModerate to severe HL is a significant risk factor for incident depression among older adults. Hearing aid use attenuated this risk. Future research should investigate mechanistic pathways linking HL and mood disturbances.

Indexed as

DepressionHearing LossAgedAged, 80 and overAudiometry, Pure-ToneFemaleHearing AidsHumansIncidenceLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsAudiometryDepressionHearing aidsHearing lossOlder adults

Identifiers

PMID41206658
PMCPMC12758969

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.