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10 - SENIOR Health Fair - September 26, 2018 Half as Likely to Develop Dementia? Special to The Weekly Vista Your hearing health, and your overall health is very important to Blue Wave Hearing Centers. Studies have shown that people who treat hearing loss with hearing aids are half as likely to have mental decline or develop dementia. According to the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), hearing impairment contributes to the progression of mental impairment in older adults. "When hearing impairment goes undetected, it can interrupt the brain's process- ing of spoken language and sound," Beth Muller, Au.D., explains. "Hearing loss can also decrease the brain's ability to understand speech, and therefore hinders the recall, or memory of those conversations." According to a Johns Hopkins study, the potential for cognitive decline increases with greater levels of hearing loss. Blue Wave Hearing Centers encourages people as young as 45 to have hearing exams every year. To support this mission, Blue Wave offices will perform free hearing screenings to the community. "As the science of hearing loss continues to expand, we are seeing an increase in the number of people who are ready to embrace innovative hearing solutions," says Dr. Muller. "So far, the evidence shows that increased hearing sensi- tivity helps keep the brain sharp, and as more people seek amplification through hearing devices, we end up with a mentally sharper, healthier population as a whole." Blue Wave Hearing Centers are proud to promote better hearing and have been serving Northwest Arkansas for over 19 years. Call us at (479) 202-9618 or visit us at www.BlueWaveHearing.com to schedule your free hearing screening. Beth Muller, Au.D. Molly Dillon, Au.D. Beat the Odds with Blue Wave Hearing! Facts about the 50+ population One in three Americans is now 50 or older — by 2030, one in five will be 65+. Here are more facts about the Baby Boomer Generation (born 1946-1964), the Silent Generation (born 1925-1945) and the Greatest Generation (born 1910-1924.) Demographics • There were 40.3 million people age 65 and older on April 1, 2010, an increase of 5.3 million since the 2000 census. The 65+ age group grew at a faster rate than the total U.S. population, increasing by 15.1 percent as compared to 9.7 percent for the total population. • The number of people 65 and older in the United States is expected to increase to 55 million in 2020; to some 70 million by 2030, and to 88.5 million by 2050. • Among the age groups within the older population, the 85-to-94-year olds expe - rienced the fastest growth between 2000 and 2010, rising from 9.5 million to 12.4 million. • The number of people age 85 and older — who often require additional care- giving and support — will increase from about 14% of the older population today to 21% in 2050. Home Sweet Home • Maine is the state with the highest concentration of people age 50+, New Hamp- shire, Montana, Vermont, West Virginia round out the top 5. • "Aging in Place": 87 percent of adults age 65+ want to stay in their current home and community as they age. Among people age 50 to 64, 71% want to age in place. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11