A new study published in the January 9 issue of the scholarly journal Neuron shows hope that treating damaged hair cells of the inner ear might someday help people with noise-induced hearing loss.
A new study
published in the January 9 issue of the scholarly journal Neuron shows
hope that treating damaged hair cells of the inner ear might someday help
people with noise-induced hearing loss.
In the study,
researchers working with mice manipulated a cellular pathway that controls hair
cells. They discovered that new hair cells formed after stem cells in the
mice’s inner ear were treated with a drug that blocks this pathway.
The research
was led by Dr. Albert Edge of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and
Ear Infirmary. Dr. Edge commented in a journal news release that "We show
that hair cells can be regenerated from the surrounding cells in the cochlea.
The new hair-cell generation results in a recovery of hearing in the region of
the cochlea where the new hair cells appear."
The study's
authors concluded the treatment holds promise for people with noise-induced
deafness. Although results from tests conducted on animals don't necessarily
translate to humans, the study authors said their findings might one day help
lead to the development of new treatments for people with acute hearing loss.
Over 250 million peole worldwide are affected by
hearing loss. For more information, log on to the website of the U.S. National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.