Work

Midlife Physical Activity and Hearing Impairment in Late Life: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (aric) Study

Year: 2022

Type: conference-abstract

Abstract: Background Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with worse hearing, but the role of mid-life physical activity (PA) on hearing loss at older ages is yet to be investigated. Methods Among 3,198 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, we investigated the association between self-reported mid-life PA (meets PA recommendations [≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA/week] vs. not) and hearing loss (audiometric battery [pure-tone and speech-in-noise]) at older ages. We estimated differences in hearing between those who met and did not meet PA recommendations at mid-life and at late life adjusting for demographics, medical conditions, and noise exposure. Results 43.3% participants met PA recommendations at mid-life. These participants, compared to those who did not meet recommendations, had lower better hearing by 1.51 (0.46, 2.55) decibels, and 0.37 (0.01, 0.74) more words identified in the speech-in-noise test. Conclusions Meeting PA recommendations in mid-life was associated with better hearing at older ages.

Source: Innovation in Aging

DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac059.1162