Post by UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences

A hearing test measuring how the brain processes sound, rather than how well the ears detect it, could help diagnose dementia, according to researchers at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. In research funded by Alzheimer's Society, the test asks people to identify one sound played into one ear while a different sound is played into the other. It reveals how effectively the brain separates and interprets competing noises, such as when in a busy environment like a restaurant. Results found that patients with most forms of dementia performed worse than healthy volunteers using the nonverbal test. 🗣️ Dr Chris Hardy (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) joint lead author of the study, said: "We hear with our ears, but we also hear with our brains, and dementia can affect how the brain interprets sound, even when the ears themselves are working normally. "When we’re in a busy environment, such as a pub or restaurant with lots of people talking, the brain must work hard to focus on a single voice. That’s an example of the type of ability we refer to as ‘brain hearing’. This is challenging for everybody, but this study shows that it’s even harder for people with a form of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease." Access the research here: https://lnkd.in/e2RW_J7b