Turning up the television. Asking someone to repeat themselves. Finding it harder to follow a conversation over dinner. These changes can be easy to ignore — or dismiss as something to deal with later. But hearing deserves attention for reasons that go beyond our ears.

New international research led by the University of New South Wales, Australia, projects that by 2050, more than twice as many people worldwide could be developing dementia each year as in recent years.

The researchers emphasise that we cannot simply wait for people to develop dementia before responding. Alongside better diagnosis and care, we need greater attention to reducing risk — and that includes recognising how something as familiar as difficulty hearing can matter for our brain health.

Brain health includes our ability to think, learn and remember. It is influenced by factors throughout life, giving us opportunities to act long before memory concerns or cognitive changes arise.

The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention identifies hearing loss as an important modifiable risk factor, particularly in midlife. This means this is something we can address — giving us a reason to pay attention to hearing changes in our forties, fifties and sixties, rather than putting them off until later.

When listening becomes hard work, we may contribute less at dinner, stop attending a group or turn down invitations. These interactions help keep our brains active — following a discussion, recalling experiences and responding to others all engage our thinking and memory.

Staying socially connected supports brain health, while social isolation is associated with increased dementia risk. For people with hearing loss, hearing aids can make conversations easier to follow, helping them continue participating in these important parts of everyday life.

Hearing aids can also help protect memory and thinking. Research into hearing treatment has demonstrated slower cognitive decline among older adults at higher risk.

Researchers are continuing to explore how this works, including the role of social connection. But there are good reasons to act now: addressing hearing loss can help us stay engaged today, alongside its potential longer-term benefits for brain health.

For some people, hearing aids feel like a visible sign of getting older, and that can put them off seeking help. But technology has progressed: small, discreet options fit behind the ear or almost entirely within the ear canal and may be barely noticeable to others. Understanding the connection between hearing and brain health gives us another reason to look beyond those associations with ageing.

If you notice changes, speak with your doctor or an audiologist. An assessment can identify difficulties and help establish whether hearing aids or other support would be useful. You do not have to wait until problems become severe. Ask how often your hearing should be checked, based on your age, hearing and exposure to noise.

Protecting hearing matters, too, including for younger people and those working in noisy environments. Keep headphone volume down, limit exposure to loud sound and use appropriate hearing protection around noisy equipment or at loud events. Noise-related damage can be permanent.

We cannot prevent every case of dementia, and a diagnosis does not mean someone failed to look after themselves. But we can recognise opportunities to support brain health — and hearing is one we can act on now.

Memory Matters Myth Buster

Myth: I'm too young to think about dementia.

Fact: Looking after your brain matters at every age. There are steps we can take throughout life to protect our brains and reduce dementia risk — it is never too early or too late to start.

• Erica Fulton is executive directorof Dementia Bermuda. The organisation provides information, education and support for individuals and families. Learn more at dementiabermuda.bm