{
  "id": 5569757,
  "title": "Voice disorder may be an early sign of dementia, study suggests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/voice-disorder-may-be-an-early-sign-of-dementia-study-suggests",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-04T14:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-voice-disorder-early-dementia.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study suggests that voice disorders may serve as an early indicator of cognitive decline or dementia, surpassing the potential of hearing loss. Researchers from Drexel University's College of Medicine analyzed data from over 833,000 patients and found that those with voice problems, such as changes in pitch, clarity, volume, or vocal range, were 58% more likely to experience cognitive impairment or dementia than individuals without such voice disorders. The study, published in the Journal of Voice, emphasizes the importance of recognizing voice disorders as a possible early sign of cognitive decline, particularly in individuals who do not seek medical care. This finding is crucial, as over 17.9 million U.S. adults have reported voice problems within the past year, and 9.4 million of these individuals have had persistent issues lasting a week or more. Early diagnosis of cognitive decline can empower patients to plan for their financial management and future health, potentially improving their quality of life. The research also indicates that patients with both voice disorders and hearing loss face an even greater risk of cognitive decline compared to those with hearing loss alone. However, the study does not establish a definitive link between specific voice disorders and cognitive decline or the efficacy of voice treatment in slowing cognitive decline.",
  "summary": "Those experiencing worsening voice quality—in pitch, clarity, volume, reduced vocal range or other voice disorders—and no hearing loss may be at 58% greater risk of cognitive impairment or dementia than those who are not experiencing a voice disorder, according to the first large-scale study of diagnosed voice disorders and cognitive decline.",
  "key_points": [
    "Voice disorders may indicate early cognitive decline or dementia.",
    "58% higher risk for those with voice problems compared to healthy individuals.",
    "Study published in Journal of Voice emphasizes early recognition of voice disorders."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Voice Changes May Be an Early Sign of Dementia, Study Finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/voice-changes-may-be-an-early-sign-of-dementia-study-finds",
        "published": "2026-09-04T16:44:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}