MIDLIFE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN LATE LIFE: ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES (ARIC) STUDY

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with worse hearing, but the role of mid-life physical activity (PA) on hearing loss at older ages is yet to be investigated. METHODS: Among 3,198 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, we investigated the association between self-reported mid-life PA (meets PA recommendations [≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA/week] vs. not) and hearing loss (audiometric battery [pure-tone and speech-in-noise]) at older ages. We estimated differences in hearing between those who met and did not meet PA recommendations at mid-life and at late life adjusting for demographics, medical conditions, and noise exposure. RESULTS: 43.3% participants met PA recommendations at mid-life. These participants, compared to those who did not meet recommendations, had lower better hearing by 1.51 (0.46, 2.55) decibels, and 0.37 (0.01, 0.74) more words identified in the speech-in-noise test. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting PA recommendations in mid-life was associated with better hearing at older ages.