Abstract

The slow accumulation of inflammatory biomarker levels in the body—also known as inflammation—has been linked to a myriad of age-related diseases. Some of these include neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease, obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many others. Though a direct correlation has not been established, research connecting age-related hearing loss (ARHL)—the number one communication disorder and one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases of our aged population—and inflammation has gained interest. Research, thus far, has found that inflammatory markers, such as IL-6 and white blood cells, are associated with ARHL in humans and animals. Moreover, studies investigating ion channels and mitochondrial involvement have shown promising relationships between their functions and inflammation in the cochlea. In this review, we summarize key findings in inflammation within the auditory system, the involvement of ion channels and mitochondrial functions, and lastly discuss potential treatment options focusing on controlling inflammation as we age.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Publication Status

Open Access

Comments

National Institutes of Health, Grant P01 AG009524

Keywords and Phrases

Age-related hearing loss; Aging; Auditory system; Cochlea; Inflammaging

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

2073-4409

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 The Authors, All rights reserved.

Creative Commons Licensing

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2021

PubMed ID

34685743

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