Everyone loses hearing as they age, and new over-the-counter hearing aids coming soon to stores may be a good, lower-cost option for many, says Columbia otolaryngologist Lawrence Lustig.
An index that tracks how states are adapting to their aging populations ranked Vermont, Hawaii, Iowa, Colorado, and New Hampshire as the best at providing opportunities for people to age successfully.
Scientists at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons present the most definitive evidence to date that the human brain makes new neurons throughout life.
Despite widespread hearing loss among people in their 90s, only 59 percent of individuals in that age group use hearing aids, Columbia researchers found.
Older adults who used a hearing aid performed significantly better on cognitive tests than those who did not use a hearing aid, despite having poorer hearing.