AUTHOR=Wu Jianli , Shi Mengdi , Wang Chao 

TITLE=Association between tinnitus and cognitive impairment: analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011:2014

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1533821

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2025.1533821

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=BackgroundTinnitus is one of the most common potential risk factors for cognitive impairment. To understand the relationship between tinnitus and cognitive impairment, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database was analyzed after adjusting for potential confounders, including age and other systemic comorbidities.Materials and methodsA total of 684 participants who had undergone a total tinnitus survey and underwent a cognitive function test were included. Tinnitus is divided into acute tinnitus and non-acute tinnitus. The Consortium for the Establishment of Alzheimer’s Disease Word Learning Xi Registry (CERAD-WL), the Dynamic Logistics Proficiency Test (AFT), and the Digit Sign Substitution Test (DSST) were used to assess cognitive impairment.ResultsSubjects with tinnitus had lower AFT and DSST scores compared to the healthy group, indicating decreased cognitive function. After adjusting for other covariates in humans, tinnitus was significantly associated with a decrease in AFT and DSST scores (trend p-values = 0.02 and 0.005, respectively).ConclusionTinnitus is associated with cognitive impairment.