How aging affects brain connections for hearing
Age-dependent plasticity of central auditory synapses
['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · NIH-11194358
Researchers are looking at how aging changes tiny nerve connections in the brain's hearing center to better understand age-related hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (TUCSON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11194358 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the cochlear nucleus, the brain's first hearing center, to see how age-related changes in the ear affect its nerve connections. Scientists will record nerve activity and use tissue staining to map three types of auditory nerve synapses and how they change with age. They will link those central changes to earlier loss of specific nerve cells in the cochlea. The goal is to pinpoint synaptic and cellular mechanisms that contribute to gradual hearing loss as people age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with age-related hearing loss or those noticing gradual hearing decline are the patients most connected to this research.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment, those with sudden hearing loss, or individuals whose hearing problems are not related to aging may not directly benefit from this basic laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological targets to help prevent or treat age-related hearing loss and guide future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and tissue studies have linked cochlear neuron loss to hearing decline, but detailed mapping of synapse-level changes in the cochlear nucleus across aging is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
TUCSON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA — TUCSON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: XIE, RUILI — UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- Study coordinator: XIE, RUILI
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 below.