Abstract
Studies reported an association between impaired hearing and vestibular function with the risk of dementia. This study investigated the association between Ménière’s disease (MD) and the risk of dementia using a nationwide cohort sample of data obtained from the South Korea National Health Insurance Service. The MD group (n = 496) included patients aged over 55 years and diagnosed between 2003 and 2006. The comparison group was selected using propensity score matching (n = 1984). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate incidence and hazard ratios for dementia events. The incidence of dementia was 14.3 per 1000 person–years in the MD group. After adjustment for certain variables, the incidence of dementia was higher in the MD group than in the comparison group (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval = 1.17–2.12). Subgroup analysis showed a significantly increased adjusted HR for developing Alzheimer’s disease (1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–2.37) and vascular dementia (1.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.10–3.57) in the MD group. Patients with dementia experienced a higher frequency of MD episodes than those without dementia. Our findings suggest that late-onset MD is associated with an increased incidence of all-cause dementia, and it might be used as a basis for an earlier diagnosis of dementia.
Highlights
Dementia is a widespread neurological disease in the elderly, and Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are the two most common types of dementia
The loss of hearing and vestibular function has emerged as an important risk factor for dementia
Several studies have reported that the risk of dementia increases as the severity of hearing loss increases, and that a decrease in the saccule function is associated with an increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease [6,7,8,9]
Summary
Dementia is a widespread neurological disease in the elderly, and Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are the two most common types of dementia. They possess a high risk of imbalance, falls, and loss of spatial orientation causing wandering behaviors that can greatly affect quality of life and contribute to social and family burdens [1,2,3]. The loss of hearing and vestibular function has emerged as an important risk factor for dementia. Several studies have reported that the risk of dementia increases as the severity of hearing loss increases, and that a decrease in the saccule function is associated with an increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease [6,7,8,9]. Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disease that can lead to hearing loss and disequilibrium. Some patients with Ménière’s disease experience profound stressful conditions owing to these multiple symptoms [11]
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