Heat shock protein genetic polymorphisms tied to age-related hearing impairment

Written By : Dr. Nandita Mohan |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2021-05-10T09:45:34+05:30 | Updated On 10 May 2021 1:06 PM IST

Recent research published in the Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has revealed that heat shock protein polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to age-related hearing impairment (ARH) in the elderly population.

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most of us as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults.

Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor's advice, respond to warnings, and hear phones, doorbells, and smoke alarms. Hearing loss can also make it hard to enjoy talking with family and friends, leading to feelings of isolation.

Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is a major disability among the elderly population. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were found to be associated with ARHI in animal studies.

Hence, the team of researchers from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan led by Ning-Chia Chang conducted the present study with the aim to analyze the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSP genes with ARHI in an elderly population in Taiwan.

Participants ≥65 years of age were recruited for audiometric tests and genetic analyses. The pure tone average (PTA) of the better hearing ear was calculated for ARHI evaluation.

The associations of HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956), HSPA1A (rs1043618) and HSPA1B (rs2763979) with ARHI were analyzed in 146 ARHI-susceptible (cases) and 146 ARHI-resistant (controls) participants.

The following results were seen-

a. The "T" allele of HSPA1B rs2763979 showed a decreased risk of ARHI.

b. The "TT" genotype of rs2763979 also showed a decreased risk of ARHI in the dominant hereditary model.

c. For HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956) and HSPA1A (rs1043618), the haplotype "CAG" was related to a decreased risk of ARHI.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "these findings suggest that HSP70 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to ARHI in the elderly population."

Heat shock proteingenetic polymorphismage-relatedhearing impairmentjournal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery

Source : Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Dr. Nandita Mohan

Dr. Nandita Mohan is a practicing pediatric dentist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Along with this, she is equally interested in keeping herself up to date about the latest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry which is the driving force for her to be in association with Medical Dialogues. She also has her name attached with many publications; both national and international. She has pursued her BDS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and later went to enter her dream specialty (MDS) in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences. Through all the years of experience, her core interest in learning something new has never stopped. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751