Dr Jenna Littlejohn from the University of Manchester, alongside Dr Ross Dunne from Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, is leading a new research study into hearing and dementia. The Auditory Biomarkers of Healthy Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease (ABHAD) study looks at how hearing changes in people with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy people.

The study is funded by Deafness Support Network and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). We asked Jenna some questions about the study:

What is this study about?

We already know that people with Alzheimer’s often have hearing problems. But we don’t fully understand why. This study will look at whether changes in hearing could be an early sign that someone might develop Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

Scientists have found that in Alzheimer’s disease, two types of abnormal proteins — called amyloid and tau — build up in the brain. They can also build up in the parts of the brain that help us hear sounds. We want to find out if these changes in the hearing system happen early enough that they could help doctors spot Alzheimer’s sooner.

What does the study involve?

The study is taking place in Greater Manchester and we are looking for participants aged 55 and older. People with and without hearing aids can take part.

If you decide to take part, you will need to come for 2 visits. The first visit will be now, and the second one will be about 18 months later.

During each of these visits, we will do a few things. We will check your hearing carefully. We will also ask you to do some simple tests that help us understand how you think and remember things. If you are willing, we might also take a small sample of your blood – this is something you can choose to do or not.

By seeing you at two different times, we can learn how hearing and memory might change as people get older.

Who can take part?

We are looking for 2 different groups of people to volunteer.

First, we need people who have noticed some mild memory problems. This includes those with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease.

Second, we also need healthy volunteers who don’t have any memory problems. These volunteers will help us compare the results and understand the findings better.

Why is this research important?

Understanding how Alzheimer’s disease affects hearing could help doctors diagnose the disease earlier.

It could also help people get support sooner, such as hearing tests, memory checks, and even new treatments one day.

Research like this depends on amazing volunteers. By taking part, you are helping scientists make real progress towards fighting dementia. You can also sign up to Join Dementia Research to hear about even more studies.