Your voice may hold an early warning sign of dementia, study finds

Voice disorders may be an earlier and stronger indicator of cognitive decline than hearing loss alone, according to a study published in the Journal of Voice, The Washington Post reports.

The analysis, drawn from primary care data on more than 833,000 adults over 50, found people with a voice disorder but no hearing loss had a 58% higher risk of cognitive impairment, while those with both conditions faced more than double the risk. Hearing loss alone was linked to a 27% increased risk.

Senior author Dr Robert Sataloff of Drexel University’s College of Medicine said voice changes may reduce participation in brain-supporting social activities, though the study does not establish that voice disorders cause dementia.