University of South Carolina researchers have found that maintaining regular physical activity may help preserve hearing in older adults as they age.
The study evaluated 150 participants between the ages of 50 and 80 to examine how physical fitness and cardiovascular metrics relate to age-related hearing decline.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the investigation assessed participants' hearing capacity, cognitive abilities, blood pressure, and overall physical condition, focusing on how well individuals managed routine daily activities.
Cardiovascular metrics and blood pressure results
Researchers designed the study to test whether age-related changes in hearing and cognitive function were linked to the condition of the cardiovascular system. Medical scientists previously hypothesised that deteriorating vascular health might be a shared underlying factor driving auditory decline in older populations.
To measure vascular condition, the research team examined systolic blood pressure, which represents the pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts. As expected, participants demonstrated higher average blood pressure as their age increased.
However, the researchers found no statistical association between elevated systolic blood pressure and increased hearing loss. Having higher blood pressure did not correspond to worse hearing performance among the participants tested.
Physical fitness as a protective factor
In contrast, the study identified a significant positive link between good physical condition and auditory preservation. Participants who were more physically active and better able to handle daily physical tasks were noticeably less likely to experience hearing deterioration.
The authors concluded that keeping physically active could be an effective, practical strategy for preventing age-related hearing loss, a condition medically known as presbycusis that affects millions of aging individuals worldwide.
Age-related hearing loss typically develops gradually over several decades as sensory hair cells within the inner ear undergo wear and tear. While high blood pressure has long been studied as a potential contributor to reduced blood flow in inner ear capillaries, the new findings suggest that overall physical movement and functional fitness play a distinct role in maintaining hearing health.
Background and related research
The University of South Carolina is a major public research institution based in Columbia, South Carolina. Its researchers regularly conduct clinical and public health studies on aging, cardiovascular health, and preventive medicine.
The study appears in Scientific Reports, an open-access peer-reviewed journal published by Nature Portfolio. In earlier research into exercise and vascular function, scientists found that regular workouts do not protect leg blood vessels from the negative effects of prolonged sitting.
