Seems like the obvious confounding factor is just aging: Old people have problems with hearing, and old people are also less likely to walk briskly. The subset of people with undiagnosed hearing problems probably aren't taking care of their health in general.
replyFrom the article:
reply> Not only does walking speed typically decrease with age, greater levels of hearing loss are linked with slower walking speed for adults of all ages.
Exactly.
replyOxidative stress is my unrelenting hunch.
(Frankly, it is ridiculous to me that doctors go around saying that fixing your hearing will free up your brain will fix your life. Fix the thing that's dragging down an expensive system that's wired straight into the sensorium and yep, you'll fix your other expensive systems like the brain.)
https://xkcd.com/552/ Seems appropriate
reply> appropriate
replyFair play for not using the word 'obligatory '.