Hearing loss and subjective cognitive decline in American Indian and Alaska Native adults

Abstract INTRODUCTION Prior research has shown a positive association between hearing loss and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). However, this association remains unclear in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. METHODS Data from 170,048 participants in the 2019 and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), including non‐Hispanic AI/AN (AI/AN), White (NHW), and Black (NHB) adults, and Hispanic/Latino adults, were analyzed. We evaluated the association between hearing loss and SCD across race and ethnicity and age categories (45–64, 65+) using logistic regression. RESULTS Hearing loss was positively associated with SCD across all groups. Adjusted odds ratios were 3.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.83–5.44) for AI/AN participants aged 45 to 64 and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.06–4.38) for those 65+. The association was stronger in younger AI/AN, NHW, and NHB adults. DISCUSSION Our findings revealed a significant association between hearing loss and SCD among AI/AN adults, consistent with other racial and ethnic groups, with age potentially modifying the association.