TITLE:
Auditory Dysfunction in Aging: Prospects for Stem Cell Therapy
AUTHORS:
Henrique F. Pauna, Maria Stella A. Amaral, Steven K. Juhn, Walter C. Low, Miguel A. Hyppolito
KEYWORDS:
Aging, Presbycusis, Age-Related Hearing Loss, Stem Cell, Homeostasis
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.10 No.2,
February
28,
2019
ABSTRACT: Age-related hearing loss is the most common cause of
adult auditory dysfunction. It is characterized by bilateral, progressive
auditory deterioration associated with the aging process. There currently are
limited options for the treatment as hearing aids or cochlear implants. To
establish novel strategies for the treatment of this entity, it is crucial to
elucidate the mechanisms of age-related hearing loss. Its etiology is believed
to be multifactorial including both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Oxidative
damage, as seen in other aging organs
systems, may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the age-related
hearing loss. Studies on animal models and human temporal bones have indicated
a close relationship between degeneration of the cochlear lateral wall and
hearing loss. Additional therapies that may prove beneficial in the treatment
of age-related hearing loss include stem cell therapy, which we intend to
review in this manuscript.