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Study uncovers hair cell loss as underlying cause of age-related hearing loss:
In a new study of human ear tissues, hearing scientists have demonstrated that age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, is mainly caused by damage to hair cells, the sensory cells in the inner ear that transform sound-induced vibrations into the electrical signals that are relayed to the brain by the auditory nerve. Their research challenges the prevailing view of the last 60 years that age-related hearing loss is mainly driven by damage to the stria vascularis, the cellular "battery" that powers the hair cell's mechanical-to-electrical signal conversion.
The inner ear, where most types of hearing impairment originate, cannot be biopsied, and its delicate structures can only be resolved in specimens removed at autopsy. Understanding the true cellular causes of age-related hearing loss impacts how future treatments are developed and how appropriate candidates will be identified, and can also suggest how to prevent or minimize this most common type of hearing damage, according to the study authors, led by Pei-zhe Wu, MD, a postdoctoral research fellow in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery in the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
"Our study upends the dogma about the major cause of age-related hearing loss," said Dr. Wu. "Documenting the dominant role of progressive hair cell loss in the hearing impairment of normal aging means that the millions who suffer with this condition could benefit from the hair cell regenerative therapies that are the focus of ongoing research across the world. No one is focusing on approaches to regenerate the stria."
Journal Reference:
Pei-zhe Wu, Jennifer T. O'Malley, Victor de Gruttola, et al. Age-related hearing loss is dominated by damage to inner ear sensory cells, not the cellular battery that powers them [$], Journal of Neuroscience (DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0937-20.2020)
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @08:53AM (3 children)
"Study Uncovers Hair Cell Loss as Underlying Cause of Age-Related Hearing Loss"
Uhm ... I didn't think this was anything new. I thought this was well established. At least that's how I remember it being explained to me years ago multiple times.
If you listen to loud noise or music those hair cells get damaged and they don't really grow back that easily. As they get damaged over the years you lose your hearing. The more sensitive, high pitched detecting, ones tend to go first.
Hence you don't want to listen to loud music and you want to stay away from loud noises throughout your life. Or you want to protect your ears with ear protection. This will help you not have as much hearing loss as you get older.
I feel like this is old stuff being 'rediscovered' again and again and again. For the headlines.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @09:02AM
I did a quick google search.
"Damage to the inner ear. Aging and exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren't transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072 [mayoclinic.org]
So I'm still puzzled why they say this is new research. AFAIK this has been thought to be the reason for hearing loss for many years now.
"Exposure to excessive noise is generally considered to be the second most common cause of hearing loss. The delicate sensory cells in the cochlea (called hair cells) can be damaged by loud noise. The higher the noise level or the longer the duration of exposure, the greater is the likelihood of permanent hearing loss often with tinnitus.
It’s no longer the case that noise-induced hearing loss (often abbreviated to NIHL) is mainly related to a noisy occupation or loud music at concerts. Increasingly, irreversible noise damage is from listening to loud music using earbuds or earphones with smartphones or other personal devices. NIHL is now affecting an increasingly younger age group."
https://www.hearinglink.org/your-hearing/causes-hearing-loss/ [hearinglink.org]
(Score: 4, Informative) by hemocyanin on Tuesday July 21 2020, @09:05AM (1 child)
That's noise induced hearing loss as opposed to age related. As it turns out, both are related to losing the sensor hairs which makes sense -- we need those hairs to cause signals interpreted as sound by the brain. Once damaged, these hairs don't grow back in humans but an interesting factoid about chickens: they can regenerate the hair cells necessary for hearing after suffering hearing damage: https://www.futurity.org/chickens-hearing-ears-cells/ [futurity.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 21 2020, @05:45PM
I figured that age related vs noise induced could be related in that, over the years, noise will naturally deteriorate your hearing and by the time you get older you have already experienced a lot of noise that has, over the years, deteriorated your ears. Hence if you take care of your ears you will experience less hearing loss at an older age.