Dementia advocate and world record adventurer calls for earlier ear and hearing health checks
Three-time world record holder and dementia advocate Louis Alexander is calling for greater awareness of earlier ear and hearing health checks, amid growing concern about the links between hearing loss and cognitive decline.
Hearing loss is the top modifiable risk factor for dementia according to The Lancet Commission, but a new study of over 1000 people conducted by ear and hearing health technology provider, TympaHealth, reveals that people are addressing hearing issues too late.
Two in five people with hearing loss (40%) stated they wish they had addressed it earlier. Over a quarter (28%) of respondents who delayed seeking help said they assumed changes in hearing were “just part of ageing” or expected the issue to resolve on its own.
Louis lost his grandfather to dementia in 2019 and made a promise at his funeral to support the fight against the disease until a cure is found.
He is recognised by Guinness World Records as the first and only person in history to both run marathons on all seven continents and swim marathon distances across all seven seas. He is now on a mission to achieve 10 world records and raise over £1m for dementia by the age of 30.
Louis will be partnering with TympaHealth to encourage people to both normalise and take ear and hearing health issues seriously.
Louis said: “I’ve dedicated much of my life to raising awareness of dementia and the things we can do to reduce risk before it’s too late. Hearing loss is one of the most overlooked parts of that conversation.
“Many people still don’t realise how closely hearing health is connected to brain health, or how long hearing loss can go undiagnosed.”
Dr.Krishan Ramdoo, CEO and founder of TympaHealth, said: “Early detection is critical when it comes to hearing loss not just for communication, but for cognitive health and overall quality of life. Louis’s advocacy work and personal mission align closely with what we’re trying to achieve at TympaHealth.
“By working together, we hope to challenge outdated perceptions around hearing loss and encourage people to seek checks earlier, before problems escalate.”
New analysis of noise data from Transport for London (TfL) indicates that several of the capital’s busiest Tube routes often show sound levels above 90 decibels, a threshold commonly linked to increased risk of hearing damage after repeated exposure.
