{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T21:22:10Z","timestamp":1790198530711,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,12]],"date-time":"2025-12-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765497600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Audiology Research"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Individuals with untreated hearing loss often experience cognitive decline as a result of increased cognitive load and reduced sensory stimulation. Despite the well-established link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults, its impact on cognition in young and middle-aged adults has not been systematically examined. Given the Lancet Commission\u2019s identification of midlife hearing loss as the leading modifiable risk factor for dementia, early identification of cognitive decline is essential. This review explored the cognitive impact of untreated hearing loss in adults. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE to include studies comparing cognitive function between adults with normal hearing and those with untreated hearing loss aged 18\u201365 years. The methodological quality of the included studies was examined via the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. Pooled mean differences and heterogeneity were analysed for each domain. Results: Seven studies included in the qualitative synthesis had \u201cmoderate\u201d to \u201cstrong\u201d methodological quality. The cognitive domains assessed in these studies were global cognitive function, memory, attention, and executive function. Of these, six were eligible for meta-analysis, which revealed a small but statistically significant decline in overall cognitive performance and memory and executive function among adults with untreated hearing loss. Conclusions: Cognitive vulnerabilities exist in young and middle-aged adults with untreated hearing loss. Hence, incorporating cognitive assessment into routine audiological evaluation may enable earlier intervention and delay the future burden of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related dementias in such a population.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/audiolres15060174","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,12]],"date-time":"2025-12-12T11:13:33Z","timestamp":1765538013000},"page":"174","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Hearing Loss in Young and Middle-Aged Adults as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Late-Life Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0763-5870","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lakshmi","family":"Satheesan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1172-3549","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Usha","family":"Shastri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7551-7889","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gagan","family":"Bajaj","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9984-9175","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohan Kumar","family":"Kalaiah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025). 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