Morita Y, Sasaki T, Takahashi K, et al. - In this investigation involving 322 candidates (168 females and 154 males) aged > 60 years, researchers explored the connection between hearing impairment, defined as an average frequency between 0.25 and 8 kHz that exceeded 30 dB, and cognitive decline and identified possible risk factors for presbycusis. Findings suggested an association of hearing impairment with low mini-mental state examination scores, despite the ApoE4 status. If ApoE4 status is a common upstream predictor for both hearing and cognitive impairment, the hearing threshold will be associated with ApoE4 status. Such findings, however, may indicate that hearing impairment may be causally associated with cognitive dysfunction, perhaps through the mechanisms of cognitive load.