285 Hearing Loss and Brain Health - Why Better Hearing May Aid in Supporting Healthy Longevity with Robert C Keefer PhD
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 09/14/2026
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Could difficulty hearing conversations today affect your brain health, independence and quality of life in the years ahead? Hearing loss is often treated as a minor inconvenience of growing older, yet it can affect communication, relationships, social connection, confidence and independence. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with hearing-health advocate and author Robert “Bob” Keefer, MD, about the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline, why so many people delay seeking help for hearing deficits and what questions to ask before choosing a hearing-care provider....
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What role does muscle strength play in healthy aging, longevity, and independence? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Jeanne Phares about why maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important for women during and after menopause. Drawing on her personal experience as a leukemia survivor and decades of strength training, Jeanne explains the connections between muscle mass, metabolism, bone health, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will learn practical strategies for strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle habits that support vitality...
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THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the impact of low carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition on health and aging well. Today’s Featured Expert is Anne Mullens, an award winning Canadian journalist and author specializing in Health and Science Writing, At a time when the twin hazards of diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in our society that we say that there is a diabesity epidemic, we are bombarded with discordant messages about what, when, and how to eat, to stay healthy and age gracefully. A goal of this podcast is to cut through the noise and provide...
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Is chronic pain really an inevitable part of aging—or could it be a warning sign that deeper imbalances are affecting your healthspan, mobility, and quality of life? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with physical therapist, registered nurse, educator, and functional wellness expert,Stacey Roberts, about the root causes of chronic pain and why conventional treatments often focus on symptom relief instead of true healing. Stacey explains how chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, gut health issues, biomechanics, and lifestyle...
info_outlineCould difficulty hearing conversations today affect your brain health, independence and quality of life in the years ahead? Hearing loss is often treated as a minor inconvenience of growing older, yet it can affect communication, relationships, social connection, confidence and independence. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with hearing-health advocate and author Robert “Bob” Keefer, MD, about the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline, why so many people delay seeking help for hearing deficits and what questions to ask before choosing a hearing-care provider. Listeners will learn how hearing is assessed, why the fitting of a hearing aid matters, and how proactive hearing care may support brain health and healthy longevity. Dr. Gillian also shares her own experience of unequal hearing following a minor head injury, feeling she had no time to follow up, and her decision to arrange a new audiology assessment after this podcast.
Bob Keefer,is a physician, hearing-health and Alzheimer’s-prevention advocate, author and former founder of an audiology clinic. After discovering that many hearing-care professionals were not consistently using their profession’s recommended fitting practices, he created a clinic centred on evidence-informed care. His books, Hear Better, Live Longer and The Alzheimer’s Hearing Aid Paradox, explore the relationship between hearing, cognition and quality of life, as well as the importance of properly assessed and fitted hearing aids.
Episode Timeline:
00:11 — Welcome to Growing Older Living Younger
00:30 — Why hearing health matters for brain health and independence
04:31 — Bob Keefer’s path from medical-product consulting to hearing-health advocacy
07:59 — Why millions of people delay hearing tests and hearing aids
11:19 — Dr. Gillian’s personal experience with unequal hearing after a head injury
13:56 — When family members notice hearing loss first—and how to start the conversation
16:23 — Hearing loss, cognitive decline and dementia: what the research can and cannot show
24:02 — How better hearing may improve connection, confidence and quality of life
26:03 — Choosing a hearing-care provider and asking about real-ear measurement
27:50 — What to expect during hearing testing and hearing-aid fitting
30:54 — One practical action to take for hearing and brain health
32:22 — Closing thoughts and invitation to create your healthy-aging roadmap
Contact Robert C Keefer MD
Website: https://www.hearbetterlivelonger.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobertkeefer
Book information: https://www.hearbetterlivelonger.com/
Books: Hear Better, Live Longer by Dr. Robert Keefer
The Alzheimer’s Hearing Aid Paradox by Dr. Robert Keefer
Contact Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch
Explore the Growing Older Living Younger approach to extending healthspan, protecting independence and aging youthfully.
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