Hearing loss is the biggest risk factor for dementia, and it’s a modifiable one. The high prevalence of hearing loss in those over age 80 is unfortunately matched by a low level of treatment. This presentation will discuss the causes, prevalence, and treatment of age-related hearing loss. We will examine the level of evidence linking age-related hearing loss and cognitive impairment and decline: which comes first? Does one lead directly to the other? Are there confounding factors? The presentation will explore the proposed mechanisms relating age-related hearing loss to cognition.