Hearing loss (HL) and cognitive decline are major public health concerns, particularly in ageing populations as they reduce quality of life and increase risks of depression and social isolation. Physical exercise (PE) has been shown to mitigate cognitive decline, but its role in hearing health and its interaction with cognitive function is unclear.
This project will analyse UK Biobank data to investigate relationships between hearing ability, cognitive performance, and PE. Key research questions: 1) Is HL associated with cognitive function? 2) Does PE mitigate the relationship between HL and cognitive function? 3) Do demographic and socioeconomic factors moderate these relationships between HL, cognitive function and PE? Objective measures, including Speech-in-Noise hearing test results, cognitive performance metrics, and accelerometer-based activity data, will test our hypotheses: 1) HL will be associated with poorer cognitive performance. 2) Higher levels of PE will reduce the negative impact of HL on cognitive function. 3) Demographic and socioeconomic factors, such as younger age and higher education, moderate these effects.
Variables, such as age, sex, education, and income, will be covariates in statistical models to account for their influence on these relationships. Interaction terms (e.g., Hearing x Education) will test how these variables alter the strength or direction of relationships. Mechanisms like sensory deprivation and cognitive load link HL to cognitive decline, while exercise promotes brain health via improved blood flow, reduced inflammation and neuroplasticity. Existing studies often rely on subjective data, introducing bias.
Using objective measures, this study addresses gaps by examining how PE moderates hearing-cognition links. Leveraging the UK Biobank dataset, findings could guide public health initiatives promoting exercise as a preventative strategy for HL and cognitive decline, with tailored interventions for at-risk populations.
