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Disrupted structural covariance network in presbycusis patients: evidence from a large sample mri-based morphometric
1Department of Otolaryngology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|August 8, 2026
Summary
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is linked to brain gray matter volume reduction and altered brain networks. These changes may underlie cognitive decline, emphasizing the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is frequently associated with cognitive impairments and mental health issues.
- Understanding the neuroanatomical underpinnings of presbycusis is crucial for addressing associated cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in gray matter volume (GMV) and structural covariance network (SCN) reorganization in individuals with presbycusis.
- To explore the impact of presbycusis on brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and graph theory analysis.
Main Methods:
- A total of 129 presbycusis patients and 121 healthy controls (HCs) underwent neuropsychological assessments and high-resolution T1-weighted MRI.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and graph theory analysis of SCNs based on GMV were employed to analyze brain structure.
Main Results:
- Presbycusis patients exhibited altered nodal topological properties in key brain regions, including the insula, hippocampus, and frontal and occipital cortices.
- Significant differences in characteristic path length (Lp) and normalized characteristic path length (λ) were observed between groups (p < 0.05).
- Cognitive assessments indicated deficits in executive function, memory, and visual-spatial abilities in presbycusis patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Presbycusis is associated with reduced GMV and SCN reorganization across sensory, cognitive, and emotional brain networks.
- Compensatory mechanisms, like enhanced visual processing, may mitigate auditory deprivation effects.
- Findings reveal the neuroanatomical basis of cognitive decline in presbycusis, underscoring the importance of early clinical intervention.
