Randomised Controlled Trial • 2023 • Lin and colleagues; The Lancet
Research Summary
ACHIEVE tested whether a hearing intervention could reduce cognitive decline in adults aged 70–84 with untreated hearing loss. The 977 participants received either audiological support and hearing aids or a health-education programme. In the overall primary analysis, the groups did not differ significantly in three-year cognitive change. A prespecified analysis showed that effects differed between the two recruitment populations, suggesting potential benefit among participants with greater baseline risk. This is a valuable example of why a positive subgroup result must not replace the headline finding from the whole trial. The study does not justify saying that hearing aids prevent dementia in all older adults. It does, however, add evidence to an important question about sensory health and cognition. Hearing difficulties also deserve attention as a practical issue in communication and participation.
Evidence and limitations: 977-person RCT; overall primary result was null
Catalogue reference: KL-027. Source reviewed: 27 September 2026. This summary is independent of the publisher.