Depleted dopamine levels could play role, as previous studies have found low dopamine levels in both individuals with hearing loss and patients with Parkinson’s disease
A hearing impairment developed with age could increase
risk of Parkinson’s disease by up to 57 per cent and thus, serve as an early
warning sign, according to a study.
While
hearing loss has been associated with cognitive decline and considered a risk
factor for dementia, this study, published in the journal Parkinsonism and
Related Disorders, is one of the first to examine how hearing impairment could
increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers,
led by Lancaster University in the UK, said that it is still unclear whether
hearing loss is correlated with or causes the neurodegenerative condition,
which affects movement and coordination and can also cause tremors or shaking.
Proposing potential mechanisms, the
team suggested that depleted dopamine levels could play a role, as previous
studies have found low dopamine levels in both individuals with hearing loss
and patients with Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine is known to be important for
processing sound.
“It
is increasingly clear that hearing loss is not an isolated condition but is
associated with several other disorders. Understanding these links is vital if
we are to provide effective patient care, improving independence and quality of
life for the individuals concerned,” said Christopher Plack, a professor in the
Department of Psychology at Lancaster University.
For the study, the researchers analysed
data from nearly 1.6 lakh individuals in the UK Biobank dataset. The
participants had previously undergone hearing tests that measured how well they
could detect speech in a noisy environment and had no history of Parkinson’s
disease at the time of the assessment.
Over
the follow-up period of more than 14 years, 810 participants were diagnosed
with the neurodegenerative condition.
“Parkinson’s
risk increased by 57 per cent for every 10 decibels increase in hearing impairment,”
the authors wrote.
Lead researcher Megan Readman, a postdoctoral research
fellow at Lancaster University’s Department of Psychology, said, “These
findings are incredibly important. This is one of the first studies to look at
how hearing impairments may increase the risk for Parkinson’s or serve as an
early warning sign. Additionally, by identifying factors that might contribute
to the onset of Parkinson’s disease, such as hearing impairment, the findings
could pave the way for prevention and care.
“Our
findings suggest that hearing impairment is intricately related to Parkinson’s
disease and underscore the potential benefits of addressing auditory function
in Parkinson’s diagnosis and follow-up care,” Readman said.
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