NEW research casts doubt over the common belief that hearing loss can be a cause of Alzheimer's disease.
The research by QIMR Berghofer and Queensland University of Technology found no strong genetic evidence hearing loss caused the disease, despite both conditions sharing genetic variants.
Previous research has suggested mild hearing loss doubled a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's and severe hearing impairments increased the risk by up to five times.
Senior author Michelle Lupton said the team's study found around a quarter of genetic variants that influenced hearing loss were involved in Alzheimer's disease.
Despite this, the team found no evidence one condition caused the other.
"The lack of genetic evidence sheds doubt on whether the treatment for hearing impairment would change a person's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease," Associate Professor Lupton said.
"Most of the 25 per cent of genetic variants that were common in both conditions were also associated with inflammation and the body's immune response.
"This supports the mounting evidence of the importance of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
"It's possible that the relationship between these two traits may be due to a common cause that hasn't been identified as yet."
Associate Professor Lupton said while it was important that people were treated for hearing loss, the research suggested treatment may not prevent the degenerative condition.
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