Why an ENT’s perspective that might save your memory

As a Head and Neck surgeon, I spend my days focusing on the intricate pathways of the ears, nose, and throat. When it comes to my role in Aamra Seniors Club, people often ask, "Dr. Saxena, what does a surgeon specializing in the head & neck have to do with preventing dementia?"

The answer is: Everything.

The brain does not live in a vacuum. It relies entirely on the "ports" managed by the head and neck to stay connected to reality. When those ports fail, the brain begins to retreat. Recent research, including updates from The Lancet Commission, shows that up to 45% of dementia cases are preventable, and many of the primary risk factors sit squarely within my field of expertise.

1. The "hidden" risk: hearing loss

If I could give one piece of advice to every adult over 50, it would be this: Treat your hearing like a vital sign. Hearing loss is the single largest modifiable risk factor for dementia in midlife. When your hearing declines, your brain suffers in three specific ways:

Cognitive load: Your brain "steals" energy from your memory and thinking centers just to decode muffled sounds.
Brain atrophy: Parts of the brain responsible for processing sound can physically shrink from disuse.
Social isolation: People who can’t hear often stop going out. Loneliness is a fast-track to cognitive decline.

My clinical advice:

Don't wait until you are "deaf" to seek help. If you find yourself nodding along in conversations without actually following them, it’s time for an audiogram. Modern hearing aids are no longer "clunky" they are sophisticated mini-computers that keep your brain "plugged in."

2. The air you breathe: sleep apnea and oxygen desaturation

As an ENT, I often treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) where the airway collapses during sleep. From a neurological standpoint, OSA is like "strangling" the brain several times an hour.

The oxygen gap: Every time you stop breathing, your brain oxygen levels drop. Over years, this causes micro-damage to brain tissue.
The "clean-up" phase: During deep sleep, your brain uses a "trash-clearance system" (the glymphatic system) to wash away toxic proteins like amyloid-beta which is linked to Alzheimer’s. If your sleep is fragmented, the trash never gets picked up.

3. The power of "environmental inputs"

We often think of dementia as a genetic fate, but it is frequently a result of "sensory deprivation." As we age, we must protect our input channels:

The nose-brain Connection

Did you know that a sudden loss of smell can be one of the earliest signs of neurodegeneration? While not every "clogged nose" is a cause for alarm, maintaining nasal health and being aware of changes in your sense of smell (olfaction) is a key part of early neurological monitoring.

The impact of inflammation

Chronic inflammation in the ear, nose or throat (or elsewhere in the body) whether from chronic sinusitis or systemic issues can contribute to a "low-grade fire" in the body. Keeping these inflammatory markers in check through proper surgical or medical management helps protect your neural pathways.

4. The "brain defence" checklist

To my patients and readers, I recommend these four steps to start protecting your mind today:

Get a baseline hearing test: If you are over 45, know your numbers.
Screen for snoring: If you wake up tired or have been told you "gasp" in your sleep, see an ENT for a sleep study.
The "social vitamin": Engage in at least one 20-minute face-to-face conversation daily. It’s the best "multitasking" workout for your frontal lobe.
Blood pressure control: What’s good for your heart is good for your head. Aim for 130/80 mmHg or lower.

Concluding remarks

We used to think the brain was a "black box" that we couldn't influence. We now know that the health of your ears, your airway, and your lifestyle dictates how your brain will function 20 years from now.

It is much easier to preserve a healthy brain than to try and fix one that has already begun to fade.

Hearing loss, sleep apnea and dementia