A genome-wide association study for age-related hearing impairment in the Saami

This study aimed at contributing to the elucidation of the genetic basis of age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), a common multifactorial disease with an important genetic contribution as demonstrated by heritability studies. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Finnish Saami, a small, ancient, genetically isolated population without evidence of demographic expansion. The choice of this study population was motivated by its anticipated higher extent of LD, potentially offering a substantial power advantage for association mapping. DNA samples and audiometric measurements were collected from 352 Finnish Saami individuals, aged between 50 and 75 years. To reduce the burden of multiple testing, we applied principal component (PC) analysis to the multivariate audiometric phenotype. The first three PCs captured 80% of the variation in hearing thresholds, while maintaining biologically important audiometric features. All subjects were genotyped with the Affymetrix 100 K chip. To account for multiple levels of relatedness among subjects, as well as for population stratification, association testing was performed using a mixed model. We summarised the top-ranking association signals for the three traits under study. The top-ranked SNP, rs457717 (P-value 3.55 × 10⁻⁷), was associated with PC3 and was localised in an intron of the IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating-like protein (IQGAP2). Intriguingly, the SNP rs161927 (P-value 0.000149), seventh-ranked for PC1, was positioned immediately downstream from the metabotropic glutamate receptor-7 gene (GRM7). As a previous GWAS of a European and Finnish sample set already suggested a role for GRM7 in ARHI, this study provides further evidence for the involvement of this gene.     

Effects of hearing aids on cognitive functions and depressive signs in elderly people

With the physical, emotional and cognitive effects of senility, elderly people, especially those with impaired hearing, need rehabilitation for improving their life conditions. Hearing aids are frequently used to improve their daily life communications and activities. The aim of this study was to report the cognitive and psychological benefits of using hearing aids by the elderly people, over the age of 65. This was a prospective, single-arm interventional study in 34 elderly subjects with hearing impairment who answered the geriatric depression scale-short form (GDS) questionnaire and the mini mental state examination (MMSE) test, prior to, and 3 months following the use of hearing aid, after obtaining the patients’ consent to participate in study. Patients with evidence of focal neurological loss with clinical examination, a confusional state, sudden hear loss and severe tinnitus were not included in the study. Scores of the effects of hearing aids on mood and cognitive functions were compared for each subject, before and after, and between males and females. After 3 months of using a hearing aid, all patients showed a significant improvement of the psychosocial and cognitive conditions, and all of them showed betterment of their problems, i.e., the social communication and exchanging information. In conclusion, for the elderly people with the effects of hearing aids in presbycusis and due to the significant improvement in psychological state and mental functions, using and being adaptable to hearing aids is a good solution.     

老年人听力障碍筛查量表结合畸变产物耳声发射诊断早期老年性聋

目的 研究老年人听力障碍筛查量表（HHIE）与畸变产物耳声发射（DPOAE）联合应用在早期老年性聋诊断中的作用。方法 对2013年5月至2014年10月在解放军总医院海南分院就诊的95例（男51例，女44例）年龄＞65周岁，听力下降＞1年的双耳感音神经性听力下降患者行纯音测听、声阻抗测试、DPOAE检查并填写HHIE。结果 11例纯音测听为轻度听力损失的患者HHIE平均为（30.1±5.0）分，其中1例≥43分，为重度听力障碍，占9.1%（1/11），DPOAE检出率81.8%，阈值（61.3±7.0）dB SPL；23例纯音测听为中度听力损失的患者HHIE平均为（35.6±4.0）分，其中3例≥43分，为重度听力障碍，占13.0%（3/23），DPOAE 检出率78.3%，阈值（68.3±5.0）dB SPL；34例纯音测听为中重度听力损失的患者HHIE平均为（39.3±6.0）分，其中12例≥43分，为重度听力障碍，占35.3%（12/34），DPOAE检出率52.9%，阈值（71.3±5.0）dB SPL；18例纯音测听为重度听力损失的患者HHIE平均（61.7±2.0）分，均为重度听力障碍，DPOAE检出率11.1%，阈值（80.4±3.0）dB SPL；9例纯音测听为极重度听力损失的患者HHIE平均（89.7±5.0）分，均为重度听力障碍，DPOAE检出率0.0%。结论 纯音测听不能全面真实反映老年性聋患者的听力障碍程度，HHIE结合DPOAE对诊断早期老年性聋具有重要意义。     

Identifying hearing impairment and the associated impact on the quality of life among the elderly residing in retirement homes in Pretoria,South Africa

BackgroundAge-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) is the most widespread sensory disorder in the elderly. Poor audiological support within retirement homes is one of the fundamental issues impacting the Quality of Life (QoL).ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to: (1) Identify the presence of hearing impairment through a hearing screening test battery in a sample of elderly participants residing in three retirement homes. (2) Determine the psychological, communication-related and social impact of the hearing impairment on the QoL in a sample of elderly participants residing in retirement homes.MethodA prospective cross-sectional research design with quantitative methods of data analysis was used to obtain data from 70 elderly participants (mean age = 79 years, 79% were female). Ten of them used hearing aids. Hearing screening was conducted using otoscopy, tympanometry and air conduction screening (500 Hz–4 kHz). The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL) questionnaire was adapted and utilised for the present study.ResultsFindings revealed that 77% of the sample obtained a refer result from the hearing screening protocol indicating a high presence of hearing impairment. Twenty-nine per cent (n = 16) of the participants felt depressed, worried and anxious because of their hearing loss and 20% of participants felt unaccepted by their significant others as a result of their hearing impairment. Hearing difficulties were significantly associated with a reduced QoL (p = 0.045). Eight of the 10 participants who wore hearing aids reported an overall improvement in QoL since receiving and utilising their hearing aids and 20% (n = 2) of hearing aid users reported challenges with maintaining their hearing aids.ConclusionThe findings of this study emphasised the need for an increased role for audiological services provided by audiologists within retirement homes, thereby contributing to an improved QoL.     

Ageing evokes an intrinsic pro-apoptotic signalling pathway in rat cochlea

Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that age-related apoptosis evokes an intrinsic pathway of pro-apoptotic signalling within the rat cochlea. Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of ageing on cochlear apoptosis in rats, as well as the different signalling pathways involved. Materials and methods. Female Sprague Dawley rats of different ages were used (mean age 7.72±1.93 months, n=100). Luciferase assays were used to determine the different caspase activities and ATP levels in rat cochlear protein extracts. Protein and gene expression was examined by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR assays, respectively. Results. Caspase-3/7 activity, as well as caspase-3 gene expression, were statistically higher in early-mature rats (EM, 276?139±13?669 RLUs (relative light units), p<0.001; and 390±50 arbitrary units, p=0.0017, respectively) or in aged-mature rats (AM, 371?020±26?457, p<0.0001; and 1510±90, p<0.0001, respectively) than younger rats (YR 147?129±8485 and 0.14±0.004, respectively). An increased caspase-9 activity with ageing was also observed (YR 49?932±2046 RLUs vs EM 260?890±5939, p<0.0001 or AM 118?241±12?423, p<0.0001). Caspase-8 activity was not affected significantly by age. Bax protein expression also increased by age (YR 38?200±1790 arbitrary units vs EM 76?549±5450, p<0.05), in contrast to Bcl-xL protein expression (YR 27?000±5000 arbitrary units vs EM 10?200±5000, p<0.005).     

Protective roles of α-lipoic acid in rat model of mitochondrial DNA4834bp deletion in inner ear

The protective roles of α-lipoic acid in the rat model of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 4834bp deletion in inner ear were investigated. Forty female Wistar rats at 4 weeks of age were divided into four groups: group A (D-galactose group, n=10), group B (D-galactose+α-lipoic acid group, n=10), group C (α-lipoic acid group, n=10), and group D (control group, n=10). Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to detect the hearing threshold. Colorimetry was used to analyze activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and...