Using nicotine to improve hearing in older adults
Using Nicotine to Reverse Age-related Auditory Processing Deficits: Human Psychophysics and Electrophysiology
This study tests if nicotine can help improve hearing in older adults by comparing its effects to a placebo.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Irvine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Irvine, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT04971954 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are non-smoking individuals aged 18 to 85 with normal cognitive performance.
Not a fit: Patients with significant hearing loss, psychiatric illnesses, or those who smoke heavily may not benefit from this study.
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 performed: While the use of nicotine for auditory processing is a novel approach, similar studies have shown potential benefits of nicotine in cognitive enhancement.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Irvine, California
- Hearing and Speech Lab — Irvine, 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.