The #1 Dementia risk factor nobody talks about, and what to do

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Oct 16, 2025

In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Marcelo Rivolta, a sensory stem cell biology expert from the University of Sheffield, delves into the alarming rise of hearing loss and its shocking link to a 500% increase in dementia risk. He explains how modern headphones and loud concerts can lead to irreversible damage and emphasizes the social isolation caused by communication loss. Dr. Rivolta also shares groundbreaking research on using stem cells to potentially cure hearing loss, offering hope for future treatments in human trials.

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INSIGHT

Hearing Loss Is A Growing Global Problem

Hearing loss affects about one in five people worldwide and cases are rising fast.
Dr. Marcelo Rivolta links this trend to aging populations and louder everyday noise exposure.

ANECDOTE

Personal Early Hearing Damage Examples

Producer Rich lost hearing after teenage underground raves and now has damage in his thirties.
Jonathan discovered age-related high-frequency loss when his son played a high-pitched app that he could not hear.

ADVICE

Turn Down Headphone Volume

Keep headphone volume at a comfortable level and use device safety limits to avoid damage.
Turn volumes down and avoid prolonged exposure to very loud sounds to protect hearing.

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Hearing loss affects 1 in 5 people globally, increases the risk of developing dementia, and has no cure.

An astonishing half a billion people have hearing loss, which impacts their ability to communicate and connect with others. Hearing loss cases are increasing fast, especially among younger people.

For many, hearing aids and cochlear implants can be life-changing, but they can’t help everyone. But there is hope:

Scientists around the world have been working tirelessly to develop NEW treatments for hearing loss.

In this episode, Jonathan speaks to Dr. Marcelo Rivolta, a professor of sensory stem cell biology at Sheffield University.

He’s on the cusp of a major breakthrough that could mean hearing loss becomes a thing of the past.

What you’ll learn:

Why hearing loss is becoming more common
The shocking link between hearing loss and a 500% increased risk of dementia
How modern headphones and loud concerts cause permanent, irreversible damage
Why hearing loss can be more isolating than blindness
The simple ways you can protect your hearing today
How current technologies like hearing aids and cochlear implants work
About the groundbreaking new science that could cure deafness using stem cells

About Marcelo Rivolta

Marcelo Rivolta is a Professor of Sensory Stem Cell Biology at the University of Sheffield. For over two decades, his research has focused on the use of human stem cells for the understanding and treatment of hearing loss. His lab was the first to demonstrate that it was possible to create both auditory hair cells and neurons from stem cells, and his pioneering work is now moving towards clinical trials in humans.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

00:26 Does hearing loss only affect older adults?

03:37 Is permanent hearing loss reversible?

06:03 At what volume do headphones start to cause hearing loss?

08:26 Why hearing loss is more isolating than blindness

09:41 The shocking link between hearing loss and dementia

12:00 Can hearing aids reduce your dementia risk?

13:13 How do we hear? A simple explanation

15:15 Why is your microphone just like your ear?

18:07 What goes wrong in your ear to cause hearing loss?

19:20 The cells in your body you’re born with that have to last a lifetime

20:51 Why does loud noise cause irreversible damage?

23:15 Do hearing aids solve hearing loss for everybody?

24:08 The difference between a hearing aid and a cochlear implant

26:20 Is the hearing from a cochlear implant natural?

32:25 Can we find a cure for hearing loss?

34:15 Using stem cells to create new hearing cells

37:32 Can we reverse deafness? Groundbreaking study in animals

38:45 When will a cure for hearing loss be available?

42:25 What is auditory neuropathy?

45:06 What is tinnitus and could this research cure it?

46:46 Top tips to protect your hearing

50:03 Jonathan's summary

Episode transcripts are available here: https://zoe.com/learn/category/podcast