Recent Advances in the Study of Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Mini-Review

Hearing loss is a common age-associated affliction that can result from the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea. Although hair cells and SGNs are typically lost in the same cochlea, recent analysis suggests that they can occur independently, via unique mechanisms. Re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gerontology (Basel) 2012-01, Vol.58 (6), p.490-496
Main Authors: Kidd III, Ambrose R., Bao, Jianxin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium Signaling
Cell Death
Clinical Section / Mini-Review
Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Glucocorticoids - metabolism
Glutamic Acid - metabolism
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism
Hair Cells, Auditory - pathology
Hair Cells, Auditory - physiology
Hearing loss
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - etiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Noise - adverse effects
Oxidative Stress
Presbycusis - etiology
Presbycusis - pathology
Presbycusis - physiopathology
Signal Transduction
Spiral Ganglion - pathology
Spiral Ganglion - physiopathology
Stress, Physiological
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Hearing loss is a common age-associated affliction that can result from the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea. Although hair cells and SGNs are typically lost in the same cochlea, recent analysis suggests that they can occur independently, via unique mechanisms. Research has identified both environmental and genetic factors that contribute to degeneration of cochlear cells. Additionally, molecular analysis has identified multiple cell-signaling mechanisms that likely contribute to pathological changes that result in hearing deficiencies. These analyses should serve as useful primers for future work, including genomic and proteomic analysis, to elucidate the mechanisms driving cell loss in the aging cochlea. Significant progress in this field has occurred in the past decade. As our understanding of aging-induced cochlear changes continues to improve, our ability to offer medical intervention will surely benefit the growing elderly population.
ISSN:0304-324X
1423-0003
DOI:10.1159/000338588