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Translational and interdisciplinary insights into presbyacusis: A multidimensional disease
Mark A Eckert1, Kelly C Harris1, Hainan Lang2
1Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Hearing Research
|November 15, 2020
Summary
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) has distinct metabolic and sensory types, identifiable in humans and animals. Research is advancing understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of these hearing impairments.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age-related hearing loss, or presbyacusis, presents diverse etiologies and phenotypes.
- Existing research provides a theoretical framework for distinct metabolic, sensory, and neural presbyacusis subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review findings from animal and human studies on presbycusis.
- To explore the theoretical framework for distinct metabolic, sensory, and neural presbycusis phenotypes.
- To highlight research directions for advancing presbycusis understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal and human studies on presbycusis.
- Analysis of findings related to the endocochlear potential (EP) decline in aged animals.
- Examination of hair cell damage from environmental exposures contributing to sensory presbycusis.
Main Results:
- A decline in the endocochlear potential (EP) in aged animals leads to elevated hearing thresholds, especially at higher frequencies.
- Sensory presbycusis is linked to hair cell damage from cumulative environmental exposures, causing high-frequency hearing loss.
- Audiograms recognize metabolic and sensory presbycusis phenotypes in humans, but do not fully capture age-related auditory function changes.
Conclusions:
- Age-related hearing loss involves peripheral auditory system decline and primary spiral ganglion degeneration, impacting central auditory processing.
- Inner ear changes correlate with central nervous system alterations, potentially explaining speech communication difficulties in older adults.
- Further research is crucial for improving presbycusis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
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