Abstract
The growing increase in age-related hearing loss (ARHL), with its dramatic reduction in quality of life and significant increase in health care costs, is a catalyst to develop new therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce this aging-associated condition. In this regard, there is extensive evidence that excessive free radical formation along with diminished cochlear blood flow are essential factors involved in mechanisms of other stress-related hearing loss, such as that associated with noise or ototoxic drug exposure. The emerging view is that both play key roles in ARHL pathogenesis. Therapeutic targeting of excessive free radical formation and cochlear blood flow regulation may be a useful strategy to prevent onset of ARHL. Supporting this idea, micronutrient-based therapies, in particular those combining antioxidants and vasodilators like magnesium (Mg2+), have proven effective in reducing the impact of noise and ototoxic drugs in the inner ear, therefore improving auditory function. In this review, the synergistic effects of combinations of antioxidant free radicals scavengers and cochlear vasodilators will be discussed as a feasible therapeutic approach for the treatment of ARHL.
Highlights
Despite the fact that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) affects more than one-third of the world population over 60 years-old, rising to more than two-third of those in their 70’s (Ohlemiller and Frisina, 2008; Gopinath et al, 2009; Lin et al, 2011; Yamasoba et al, 2013), currently there is no available medical treatment for this age-related sensory dysfunction
It is worth noting that recent evidence shows that there is a significant involvement of strial presbyacusis in the genesis of the ARHL, leading to the suggestion that alterations in the stria vascularis could be the major cause of hearing loss during aging (Schuknecht and Gacek, 1993; Gates and Mills, 2005; Schmiedt, 2010; Clinkard et al, 2013; Lee, 2013)
In line with these observations, pharmacological up-regulation of cochlear blood flow could provide a vital treatment for ARHL
Summary
Despite the fact that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) affects more than one-third of the world population over 60 years-old, rising to more than two-third of those in their 70’s (Ohlemiller and Frisina, 2008; Gopinath et al, 2009; Lin et al, 2011; Yamasoba et al, 2013), currently there is no available medical treatment for this age-related sensory dysfunction. Previous studies have demonstrated that similar to that which occurs in other stress-related auditory pathologies, such as noise and drug-induced hearing loss (Ames et al, 1993; Ohlemiller, 2006; Chen et al, 2009; Bielefeld et al, 2010; Huang and Tang, 2010; Fetoni et al, 2011; Haider et al, 2014), an excess of free radical formation and blood flow reduction in the cochlea may be critical factors in triggering hearing loss associated with aging (Seidman et al, 2002; Bielefeld et al, 2010; Fetoni et al, 2011; Fujimoto and Yamasoba, 2014)
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