But how this might relate to cognitive decline is unclear

Structural brain changes were associated with hearing loss, a prospective cohort study using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) found.

“Brain structural change is a potential mechanism underlying the association of hearing impairment with cognitive decline and dementia,” reported Susan Resnick, PhD, of the NIH’s National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Maryland, and coauthors in JAMA Otolaryngology. “Findings of this cohort study suggest that poorer hearing is related to change in integrity of specific white matter regions involved with auditory processing.”

DTI measures of white matter integrity used in the study assess the magnitude (mean diffusivity) and directionality (fractional anisotropy) of free water diffusion. Mean diffusivity increases and fractional anisotropy decreases with deterioration of white matter.

While there were no baseline associations between hearing and mean diffusivity or fractional anisotropy, longitudinal changes in the measures were seen for both peripheral and central hearing dysfunction over a mean follow-up time of 1.7 years.

Over time, baseline peripheral hearing dysfunction assessed with pure tone audiometry showed a mean diffusivity increase in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (β 0.025; 95% CI 0.008-0.042) and the body of the corpus callosum (β 0.050; 95% CI 0.015-0.085). Fractional anisotropy showed no associations in these tracts.

Baseline central hearing dysfunction showed longitudinal associations with mean diffusivity increase (β 0.031; 95% CI 0.010-0.052) and fractional anisotropy decrease in the uncinate fasciculus (β −1.624; 95% CI −2.511 to −0.738).

The regions identified in the study played a direct or indirect role in auditory processing, while associations between hearing and regions not involved with auditory processing were not seen.

In an accompanying editorial, Justin Golub, MD, MS, of Columbia University in New York, and coauthors wrote that this study “demonstrates novel longitudinal findings that suggest that structural change in the brain may underlie the association of hearing loss with cognitive decline and dementia. The region-specific nature of the findings strengthens their validity. While previous studies have examined the cross-sectional association between hearing loss and white matter microstructure, to our knowledge, this study is the first to establish a longitudinal association.”

But the “clinically unfamiliar nature of the outcomes makes it difficult to interpret the clinical meaningfulness, or effect size, of the results,” they noted. “Moreover, several differences exist between this report and other studies examining white matter microstructure regarding DTI methodology (e.g., region of interest versus voxel-based), measures of central auditory function, and demographic characteristics (e.g., middle-aged versus older adults).”

Observational studies have shown an independent association between impaired hearing and cognition, and hearing loss may be seen as a treatable risk factor for dementia mediated by hearing-loss induced changes in brain structure. Hearing loss has been previously associated with longitudinal decreases in regional and whole brain volumes concentrated in the right temporal lobe. A 2012 study also found that high frequency hearing loss in older adults was robustly associated with lower auditory cortex gray matter volume and increased cerebrospinal fluid in that region, the two findings specifically suggesting gray matter atrophy.

A 2019 review of DTI studies in white matter described associations between loss of white matter integrity and smoking, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, as well as hearing loss, cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Meditation, diet, physical activity, and cognitive training were potentially protective.

Although previously regarded as a disease of gray matter, DTI white matter studies in Alzheimer’s dementia have also shown early white matter involvement that may be independent of accompanying gray matter changes.

To extend knowledge about hearing loss and white matter microstructure, Resnick and colleagues analyzed data from 356 cognitively normal adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging between October 2012 and December 2018. Mean age was 73.5 and 57.3% were women. People with baseline cognitive impairment, stroke, head injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and/or bipolar disorder were excluded from the study.

At baseline, about 8% reported hearing aid use. Hearing status was moderate or greater hearing loss (>40 dB HL) in about 21% of participants. Mild hearing loss (26-40 dB HL) was reported in about 31% and normal hearing (≤25% dB HL) in about 49%. Subsequent cognitive impairment was noted in 6% of participants.

Speech-in-noise (repetition of a sentence heard against background noise) evaluated central auditory processing and pure-tone audiometry assessed peripheral function.

Limitations of the study include a short follow-up. Also, the study population was largely older white participants with relatively high economic and educational level, limiting generalizability. “Replication of these findings by other investigators using more diverse populations and various DTI approaches over a longer follow-up will be necessary to substantiate these findings,” the editorialists noted.

  1. Structural brain changes were associated with central and peripheral hearing loss, a prospective study using diffusion tensor imaging found.

  2. The regions identified in the study played a direct or indirect role in auditory processing; associations between hearing and regions not involved with auditory processing were not seen.

Paul Smyth, MD, Contributing Writer, BreakingMED™

This research was supported fully by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging.

Resnick reported no conflicts.

Golub reported receiving travel expenses for industry-sponsored meetings from Cochlear, Advanced Bionics, and Oticon Medical and consulting fees or honoraria from Oticon Medical, Auditory Insight, Optinose, Abbott, and Decibel Therapeutics, and his department received unrestricted educational grants from Storz, Stryker, Acclarent, 3NT, Medtronic, and Decibel Therapeutics.

Cat ID: 130

Topic ID: 82,130,730,130,192,925

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