Meghana Rajashekara Swamy MD MPH MS

My research investigates the empirical relationship between sensory health—especially hearing loss and hearing aid use—and cognitive outcomes across adulthood and aging. A central goal is to clarify whether and how hearing impairment is associated with cognitive decline and dementia-related trajectories, and to determine the extent to which hearing aid use may modify these associations. I focus on rigorous measurement of sensory function, patterns of device uptake and adherence, and well-characterized cognitive domains to strengthen causal inference and clinical relevance.

Building beyond hearing alone, I aim to extend this work to dual sensory impairment (co-occurring hearing and vision loss), examining how combined deficits interact to influence cognition, daily functioning, and brain health. This line of research is motivated by evidence that multi-sensory challenges may compound barriers to communication, mobility, social engagement, and access to care—pathways that plausibly link sensory loss to cognitive outcomes and may represent actionable intervention targets.

Methodologically, I am interested in both observational and experimental clinical designs. In observational research, I use longitudinal cohort and real-world clinical data to estimate associations, characterize heterogeneity (e.g., by age, comorbidity, socioeconomic factors), and address key sources of bias such as confounding, reverse causation, and selective hearing aid adoption.

In experimental and quasi-experimental work, I am drawn to pragmatic trials and clinic-based interventions that test whether improving sensory input—through hearing aids and related rehabilitative strategies—can preserve cognitive function or slow cognitive decline, including among individuals with dual sensory impairments. Ultimately, my aim is to generate evidence that informs treatment, and implementation strategies to support cognitive health through sensory care.