Auditory aging and serotonin: how mood-signaling chemicals influence hearing in older adults
Official title: Mechanisms of serotonergic signaling in the auditory midbrain in aging
Funded at University of Texas San Antonio · NIH-11447126 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will explore how the brain chemical serotonin affects hearing and brain circuits in aging, with the aim of helping older people understand speech in noisy settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas San Antonio NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | July 28, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $466,462 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC023215-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447126 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults with age-related hearing loss who experience difficulty understanding speech in noise and may be interested in future translational interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without age-related hearing loss or with non-serious hearing issues unrelated to aging may not benefit.
What this research studies
As we age, many people have trouble understanding speech, especially in busy environments. This project looks at how serotonin, a brain chemical, modulates the balance of brain signals in the auditory system and whether this changes with age-related hearing loss. Researchers will examine cellular and synaptic mechanisms in the auditory midbrain to identify targets for potential interventions that could improve auditory processing without disrupting basic brain functions. The work combines neuroscience techniques and animal or tissue models to understand human-relevant pathways that could be leveraged to help older adults cope with ARHL.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new strategies to improve speech understanding in noisy environments for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows serotonergic signaling can influence EI balance in brain circuits, supporting potential relevance to the auditory system.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas San Antonio
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silveira, Marina Augusto — University of Texas San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Silveira, Marina Augusto
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.