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Tinnitus and Its Central Correlates: A Neuroimaging Study in a Large Aging Population
Berthe C Oosterloo1,2,3, Pauline H Croll1,2,4,3, André Goedegebure1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Ear and Hearing
|May 11, 2021
Summary
Tinnitus in older adults is linked to larger brain tissue and white matter volumes, independent of age and hearing loss. This suggests a potential neurodevelopmental origin unrelated to aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Tinnitus, a phantom auditory perception, affects a significant portion of the aging population.
- The underlying neurobiological mechanisms of tinnitus, particularly its relationship with brain structure, remain incompletely understood.
- Previous research has yielded inconsistent findings regarding brain volume alterations in individuals with tinnitus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the presence of tinnitus and brain tissue volumes.
- To examine the relationship between tinnitus and white matter microstructural integrity.
- To explore potential regional differences in gray and white matter volumes related to tinnitus.
Main Methods:
- Utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 2,616 participants in the population-based Rotterdam Study.
- Assessed tinnitus status and performed brain MRI scans between 2011 and 2014.
- Employed multivariable linear regression models to analyze associations, adjusting for demographic, cardiovascular, and cognitive factors, as well as hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Participants with tinnitus exhibited significantly larger total brain tissue volumes, primarily driven by increased white matter volumes.
- These associations remained significant even after accounting for hearing loss and other confounding factors.
- No significant association was found between tinnitus and gray matter volumes or global white matter microstructure. Regional analyses did not reveal specific lobar or voxel-based differences.
Conclusions:
- Tinnitus in older adults is associated with larger brain tissue and white matter volumes, independent of age and hearing loss.
- The findings suggest that tinnitus may have a neurodevelopmental origin that is separate from aging processes.
- Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these structural differences for tinnitus pathophysiology.
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