Researchers at Tiangong University and Shandong Provincial Hospital in China are investigating a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline in presbycusis, a common age-related form of hearing loss that also impacts speech recognition. A new study published in eNeuro details findings that identify a specific neurobiological connection between the two conditions.
The research team identified a Functional-Structural Relationship (FSR) indicating that individuals with presbycusis exhibit reduced connectivity between brain networks. Specifically, the putamen and fusiform gyrus – areas involved in sound and speech processing – along with the precuneus and superior medial frontal gyrus – regions associated with memory and decision-making – showed diminished connections to functional brain networks.
This decreased connectivity was directly associated with poorer hearing thresholds and reduced performance on tests evaluating memory and executive function, according to the study. The findings suggest that hearing loss is accompanied by a coordinated deterioration in both brain structure and function, potentially contributing to the symptoms of cognitive impairment.
The Hospital Afiliado de la Universidad de Medicina Tradicional China de Shandong, a tertiary hospital specializing in traditional Chinese medicine in Jinan, is a leading institution in this field of research. Established in 1955, it serves as a national center for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as a base for the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases using traditional methods. The hospital also functions as an export hospital for the National Regional Medical Center.
Similarly, the Hospital de Medicina Tradicional China de Yantai, a Level III Grade A hospital affiliated with the Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is actively involved in medical research and clinical practice. Founded in 1958, it has established a base for innovative postdoctoral practice and postgraduate training. In 2024, the hospital initiated collaborative mechanisms for oncology diagnosis, treatment, and academic exchange with two universities in Mexico.
Researchers state that preserving auditory health may protect brain integrity. They suggest that the identified FSR relationship could potentially serve as a biomarker, enabling physicians to identify individuals at higher risk of dementia through brain scans, given the correlation between changes in FSR and both hearing loss and cognitive decline.
