Study finds link between neighborhood noise levels, dementia risk

Long-term exposure to noise may be linked to an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, a new study found (Source: “Living in Noisy Neighborhoods May Raise Your Dementia Risk,” New York Times, Oct. 28).

After controlling for education, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, neighborhood air pollution levels and other factors, researchers found that each 10 decibel increase in community noise level was associated with a 36% higher likelihood of mild cognitive impairment, and a 29 percent increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The associations were strongest in poorer neighborhoods, which also had higher noise levels, according to the study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

The reasons for the connection are unknown, but the lead author, Jennifer Weuve, an associate professor of epidemiology at Boston University, suggested that excessive noise can cause sleep deprivation, hearing loss, increased heart rate, constriction of the blood vessels and elevated blood pressure, all of which are associated with an increased risk for dementia.