Hearing Loss and Dementia, A Headset to To Treat Depression and the Benefits of an Early-Bird Special
The latest in medical research and health news you need to know
Now Hear This
A study in the April 2025 Journal of the American Medical Association found that treating hearing loss could be a key step toward preventing dementia. Researchers from Columbia, Vanderbilt, New York University and Johns Hopkins reviewed data from 2,946 people with an average age of 74.9 years. The results suggest that up to 32 per cent of dementia cases “could be attributable” to undiagnosed hearing loss and treating hearing problems might delay dementia onset. Doctors in Japan found that workers with hearing loss were significantly more likely to have physical and occupational challenges. Two reasons to get your ears checked!
Why It’s Smart to Get the Early-Bird Special
People who like early-bird special dinners may have the last laugh: It turns out their habits might be a lot healthier than those who prefer to eat fashionably late. Scientists at Columbia University and Universitat Oberta de Catalnya in Barcelona found that people who consume over 45 per cent of their daily calories after 5 p.m. might have poor glucose tolerance, meaning their bodies don’t process sugar well. Researchers say it’s likely that the calories consumed later in the evening tended to be higher in sugar and fat.
A Headset to Treat Depression
Over 280 million adults suffer from depression worldwide. However, many in the U.S. will now be able to treat themselves at home with a headset! Made by Flow Neuroscience, a company that specializes in mental health innovation, the FL-100 sends low-level electric currents to that part of the brain which controls mood, gradually alleviating depressive symptoms. A 10-week trial with 174 participants in the US saw clear improvements in their mental states, despite mild side effects like skin irritation and headaches. The device got a nod from the Food and Drug Administration and is set to be launched in the US later in 2026. It is already available in the UK, Europe, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
—by Avanish Chandrasekaran
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