Presbycusis is a prevalent form of age-related hearing loss that also hinders speech recognition. While scientists have linked hearing loss to an increased risk of cognitive decline, the biological “bridge” between the two has\u00a0remained\u00a0unclear.\u00a0New from\u00a0eNeuro, researchers at Tiangong University and Shandong Provincial Hospital, led by Ning Li,\u00a0explored the link between these symptoms in people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The researchers\u00a0identified\u00a0a specific\u00a0neurobiological\u00a0link between hearing loss and cognitive decline called the Functional-Structural Ratio (FSR).\u00a0They found that the putamen and fusiform gyrus (involved in processing sound and speech) and the precuneus and medial superior frontal gyrus (involved in memory and decision-making)\u00a0become less connected to functional\u00a0brain\u00a0networks in those with presbycusis.\u00a0These reduced connections\u00a0to networks\u00a0were directly associated with worse hearing thresholds and poorer performance on memory and executive function tests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the authors, these findings suggest that hearing loss involves a coordinated decline in both brain structure and function, which\u00a0may\u00a0contribute to the symptoms of the disorder.\u00a0Says Li, “The most important takeaway is that preserving hearing health may protect brain integrity. Because\u00a0changes in the FSR\u00a0correlate with both hearing loss and cognitive decline, this ratio could eventually serve as a biomarker<\/a>-a tool for doctors to\u00a0identify\u00a0who is at the highest risk for dementia simply by looking at their brain scans.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n Journal reference:<\/p>\n