This paper explored the potential of the stem cell-derived inner ear organoid system for studying early mammalian placode development. The results will benefit future inner ear organoid applications, such as high-throughput drug screening and cell therapy.
Brain Health in the News
The better question may be, do hearing aids reduce dementia, or does dementia reduce hearing aid use? This is the title of a May 2023 Hearing Journal paper.
Apple Hearing Study Update
The latest update shared the perhaps not unsurprising statistic that an estimated one in three adult Americans are exposed to excessive noise levels, above an annual average of 70 dBA.
Drug-Like Molecules Regenerate Hair Cell-Like Cells in Adult Mice
“Think about a brake when driving a car,” Chen explains. “If the brake is always engaged, you can’t drive. We found an siRNA that could remove the brake in this genetic pathway.”
Brain Connectivity Patterns in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder had different patterns of brain connectivity between areas involved in speech processing, particularly in the parietal region, which is important for combining different sounds into speech objects.
Hearing Aids May Protect Against a Higher Risk of Dementia Associated With Hearing Loss
People experiencing hearing loss who are not using a hearing aid may have a higher risk of dementia than people without hearing loss. However, using a hearing aid may reduce this risk to the same level as people without hearing loss, according to the Lancet Public Health research.
A New Tool for Visualizing Zinc Ions in the Brain
Changes to the amount of zinc ions at the synapses has been linked to numerous neurological diseases, such as stroke, epilepsy, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and hearing disorders.
Hearing Better Can Help You Think Better
Describing hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia is “true under the strict epidemiologic definition of ‘risk,’” but the lay public may misunderstand risk as implying “a warning about an impending adverse event.”
Balance Problems? Loud Sounds Could Be a Cause
Have you ever felt dizzy, nauseous, or unsteady on your feet after leaving a loud concert? That could be the balance organ inside your inner ear reacting to the loud sounds.
Highlights From the Hearing Restoration Project
Here are highlights of recent accomplishments, including demonstrating that a cocktail of three factors can promote conversion of nonsensory cells into hair cells in the mouse model.