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Age-Related Hearing Decline and Resting-State Networks
Cassidy Teuscher Ellsworth1,2, Lucas A Kortus2, Joanne Vuong2
1Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
American Journal of Audiology
|September 9, 2025
Summary
Age-related hearing decline impacts brain functional networks, with older adults showing weaker connectivity. Preserving hearing sensitivity is linked to better local brain network efficiency and cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
Background:
- Age-related hearing loss is a common sensory impairment.
- Understanding its neural underpinnings is crucial for developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of age and hearing decline on brain functional networks.
- To examine resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and network efficiency using graph theory.
Main Methods:
- 49 adults underwent pure-tone audiometry and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- RSFC and graph theory metrics were analyzed in auditory and attention networks.
- Comparisons were made between age and hearing profile groups.
Main Results:
- Older adults exhibited weaker RSFC in the salience network compared to middle-aged adults.
- Individuals without hearing decline showed altered internetwork connectivity.
- Better local efficiency in the salience network was observed in participants with normal hearing.
Conclusions:
- Brain functional connectivity and network efficiency are significantly influenced by age and hearing thresholds.
- rs-fMRI is valuable for studying the neural mechanisms of age-related hearing loss.
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