[h=1]Straining to Hear and Fend Off Dementia[/h]By KATHERINE BOUTON (NEW YORK TIMES. 12 FEB)

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The above story is featured in the New York Times Science section today. It is well worth reading. In this blog entry I would like to submit for consideration that listening to music may help fend off dementia.

Ms. Bouton reports that researchers have found that hearing loss increases social isolation and that such isolation leads to an increase in early dementia. Now, if you do have serious hearing loss, to the extent that you are at risk for social isolation, would your enjoyment of music help maintain mental activity?

The New York Times article cites various studies on Isolation and hearing loss, but, to my knowledge, no studies have been conducted regarding serious music fans, social isolation, and dementia. It would be interesting to see if people who have hearing loss and are in an at risk group would have less dementia than individuals who do not enjoy music on a regular basis.

This is an area of study that may deserve attention.