How brain chemicals and aging affect hearing in older adults
Coding in Auditory Neurons: Effects of Amino Acids
Looking at whether changes in brain chemical signals that support attention affect how adults 65+ understand speech in noisy places.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern Illinois University Sch of Med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261205 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at how your brain's sound-processing cells and attention chemicals (like acetylcholine) change as you age. Scientists will use lab tissue studies and recordings from animal models to see how those changes alter the way sounds are coded and repeated. The team focuses on cholinergic (nicotinic) receptors in the auditory pathway that help attention filter and clarify speech. The goal is to find targets for treatments that could help older adults follow conversations better in difficult listening environments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 65 or older who have trouble understanding speech, especially in noisy or crowded settings, are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People younger than 65 or those whose hearing loss is caused only by middle-ear or mechanical problems may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new drugs or therapies that boost attention-related brain signals and improve speech understanding for older adults with age-related hearing loss.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab and animal studies have shown age-related changes in nicotinic receptors and altered neural sound coding, suggesting promise but with limited direct proof of clinical benefit in people so far.
Where this research is happening
Springfield, United States
- Southern Illinois University Sch of Med — Springfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caspary, Donald M. — Southern Illinois University Sch of Med
- Study coordinator: Caspary, Donald M.
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.