Distinct Patterns of Cortical Atrophy Predict Cognitive Progression in Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Longitudinal MRI...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Gerontology
• Auditory Neuroscience

Background:

• Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and dementia are prevalent in older adults, impacting quality of life.
• ARHL is a significant, modifiable risk factor for dementia development.
• Understanding ARHL's impact on cognitive decline is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cortical atrophy patterns in individuals with ARHL and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• To compare atrophy rates between stable MCI (sMCI) and progressive MCI (pMCI) with ARHL.
• To identify neuroimaging biomarkers for predicting cognitive progression in ARHL.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of longitudinal MRI data from 93 participants (sMCI+HC, sMCI+ARHL, pMCI+ARHL) from the ADNI cohort.
• Measurement of cortical thickness in key regions (entorhinal cortex, temporal gyri) using Freesurfer 6.0.
• Statistical comparison of atrophy rates using repeated-measures ANOVA and predictive value assessment via ROC analysis.

Main Results:

• Progressive MCI with ARHL (Group 3) showed significantly faster atrophy in the left entorhinal cortex and temporal gyri compared to controls (Group 1).
• Stable MCI with ARHL (Group 2) also exhibited accelerated temporal lobe atrophy relative to controls.
• Combined cortical thickness measures demonstrated improved accuracy in predicting cognitive progression.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with ARHL experiencing cognitive decline show accelerated atrophy in auditory and Alzheimer's disease-vulnerable brain regions.
• Cortical thickness in these specific regions can serve as a potential neuroimaging biomarker.
• These findings highlight the link between hearing loss and neurodegeneration, offering targets for early detection and intervention.