Statistical data shows that the incidence of hearing loss among the elderly aged 67-74 is as high as 30-50%.
In China, one study observed 341 elderly individuals and found that those with hyperlipidemia had a significantly higher incidence of presbycusis compared to those with normal blood lipids. Foreign scholars, through a 6-year study, found that individuals on a low-fat diet had much keener hearing than those on a high-fat diet. When those originally on a low-fat diet switched to a high-fat diet, their hearing gradually declined. Conversely, when those on a high-fat diet switched to a low-fat diet, their hearing progressively improved. This is because the inner ear's blood vessels are a terminal branch of the vertebrobasilar artery system in the cerebral circulation. The basilar artery is inherently very small, and it becomes even narrower in the inner ear. If a high-fat diet is consumed for a long time, excessive lipids in the blood will deposit on the artery walls, leading to atherosclerosis, which further narrows the inner ear's blood vessels, causing insufficient blood supply. At the same time, peroxides in the inner ear increase, resulting in ischemia and hypoxia, which over time leads to hearing loss. In most patients with atherosclerosis, signs of coronary heart disease appear 6-12 months after the onset of inner ear symptoms. Inner ear symptoms can be seen as a precursor to coronary heart disease.
Therefore, the elderly should control their intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and exercise more to prevent hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hearing loss.