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Basic Science and Pathogenesis
Salonee V Patel1, Sarah J Myers1, Ashley L Schormans1
1Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|December 24, 2025
Summary
Hearing loss did not worsen cognitive decline or sensory gating deficits in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, noise-induced hearing loss did increase synaptic density in the hippocampus of these genetically susceptible rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Genetics
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions globally, with cognitive decline and sensory gating deficits as key indicators.
- Hearing loss is a significant, modifiable risk factor for dementia, including AD.
- Mechanisms linking hearing loss, genetic predisposition, and AD risk remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hearing loss on cognitive function, sensory gating, and hippocampal synaptic density in a rat model with genetic susceptibility to AD.
- To explore the interaction between hearing loss and genetic factors in AD pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Fischer 344 (TgAPP) rats, a prodromal AD model overexpressing amyloid precursor protein.
- Induced high-frequency hearing loss via noise exposure in 15-month-old TgAPP rats.
- Assessed cognitive function (Morris water maze), sensory gating (behavioral and electrophysiological), and hippocampal synaptic density (Golgi-Cox staining).
Main Results:
- Noise exposure successfully induced high-frequency hearing loss in rats.
- TgAPP rats showed impaired reference memory, but hearing loss did not exacerbate this deficit.
- Electrophysiological assessments revealed genotype-specific auditory gating differences, while behavioral gating remained unchanged.
- Increased hippocampal CA1 neuron spine density was observed in noise-exposed rats.
Conclusions:
- Preclinical data offer insights into the interplay between hearing loss and genetic AD susceptibility.
- The noise-induced hearing loss model used was insufficient to worsen AD-related cognitive or gating impairments.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between sensory deficits and AD progression.
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