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Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 18 to 85

Using nicotine to improve hearing in older adults

Official title: Using Nicotine to Reverse Age-related Auditory Processing Deficits: Human Psychophysics and Electrophysiology

Run by University of California, Irvine · NCT04971954 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests if nicotine can help improve hearing in older adults by comparing its effects to a placebo.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
Enrollment48 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of California, Irvine
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Irvine, California and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 1, 2022
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2026
Study endsDecember 31, 2026
Registry record updatedOctober 19, 2026
Trial IDNCT04971954 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are non-smoking individuals aged 18 to 85 with normal cognitive performance.

Probably not a fit

Patients with significant hearing loss, psychiatric illnesses, or those who smoke heavily may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates how nicotine affects auditory processing in both young and older adults. Participants will be given either nicotine gum or a placebo in a double-blind, cross-over design, allowing each participant to experience both conditions. The study aims to determine if nicotine can reverse age-related auditory processing deficits through psychophysical tasks and electrophysiological measures. The findings could lead to better treatments for hearing loss across various age groups.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a novel treatment approach for improving auditory processing in older adults.

How similar studies have gone: While the use of nicotine for auditory processing is a novel approach, similar studies have shown potential benefits of nicotine in cognitive enhancement.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* between 18 and 85 years of age
* non-smokers with a score of 0-2 out of 10 maximum on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
* cognitive performance within two standard deviations of the CERAD mean

Exclusion Criteria:

* less than 18 or greater than 85 years of age
* deafness or excessive hearing loss
* smokers with a score between 3 and 10 on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
* history of psychiatric illness, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, or cardiovascular disease
* regular use of prescription medications (excluding oral contraceptives)
* drug dependency

Where it's running

  • Hearing and Speech Lab
    Irvine, California, United States     Recruiting
  • San Diego State University
    San Diego, California, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD — University of California, Irvine
  • Study coordinator: Fan-Gang Zeng
  • Email: fzeng@uci.edu
  • Phone: 9498249107

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Aging 2413University of California-Irvine 976
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.