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September 12, 2005
Hearing research gets big boost
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System say they're launching three federally funded studies into the causes of age-related hearing loss and ways to reduce or prevent that loss.
Approximately 44 percent of people suffer from significant hearing loss by age 69, 66 percent by age 79 and 90 percent after age 80, the researchers note.
The three studies -- paid for by a nearly $6.9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging -- will investigate:
- Dietary antioxidants and their potential effects on the aging inner ear.
- The role of stress pathways in hearing loss.
- Genetic, cellular and hormonal factors affecting hearing as we age.
The three studies should expand our understanding of the mechanism behind the decline in hearing over the life span, said co-principal investigator Dr. Richard Miller.
By Dennis Thompson
Posted by 4HL on September 12, 2005 2:25 AM
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