Work

Early-life hearing loss induces persistent cognitive deficits: evidence from human data and a mouse model with environmental intervention

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Hearing loss during early life has been linked to later cognitive decline, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate the cognitive impact of early hearing loss in humans, adults aged 18–40 years with severe childhood hearing loss were evaluated using standardized cognitive assessments. In parallel mouse studies, a mouse model of sensorineural hearing loss was established to assess memory function, hippocampal microglial activation, Tau phosphorylation, and synaptic integrity at 1 and 4 months post-insult. Mice were also exposed to environmental enrichment to test its therapeutic effects. Our data showed that individuals with early hearing loss had a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.010, 95% CI: 1.002–1.017, p = 0.011). Hearing-impaired mice showed progressive memory deficits, neuroinflammation, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and synaptic loss in the hippocampus. Environmental enrichment improved cognitive performance in affected mice. This study demonstrates that early-life hearing loss induces persistent cognitive deficits in humans, and induces hippocampal pathology in mice. Environmental enrichment effectively improve cognitive performance in affected mice, suggesting that timely interventions may help mitigate adverse outcomes.

Source: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1662732

Authors: Xuehua Zhou, Huiqian Yu, Yiru Wang, Kaizheng Chen, Xia Shen

Institutions: Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Fudan University, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

Language: English

Topic: Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801