Understanding the link between musical abilities, hearing health, and our genes.
The Musicality, Hearing and Genetics ("MyHearingG") Project: Experimental, epidemiological, and genomics techniques to explore the role of musicality in hearing health
['FUNDING_R21'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11134446
This research explores if being musical or engaging with music might help protect your hearing as you get older.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11134446 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
We know that listening to loud music can harm hearing, but this research looks at the opposite idea: could musical talent or enjoying music actually help keep your hearing healthy over time? Scientists are using different methods, including experiments and looking at large groups of people, to see how musical abilities and how often someone engages with music might be connected to their hearing. They also consider genetic factors and other brain skills to understand this relationship better. The goal is to discover if musicality acts as a protective shield against age-related hearing loss. This work could lead to new ways to support hearing health as we age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies might be older adults interested in understanding the connection between their musical experiences and hearing health.
Not a fit: Patients who are not interested in the role of musicality in hearing or who do not have age-related hearing concerns may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that musicality helps protect against age-related hearing loss, potentially leading to new strategies for maintaining hearing health.
How similar studies have performed: While some smaller and preliminary studies suggest a link between musicality and hearing, this project systematically tests a novel hypothesis using robust methods.
Where this research is happening
NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NAYAK, SRISHTI — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: NAYAK, SRISHTI
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.