Tinnitus: Epigenetic Mechanism and Therapy
Abstract
Tinnitus, resulting from auditory trauma, is a prevalent disorder, affecting up to 20% of the general population; it is the most prevalent new disability claim by Veterans and the most prevalent overall Service-connected disability for those receiving compensation. Although the auditory damaging event(s) are acute, chronic tinnitus develops over time and thus after the damaging event, a window of opportunity exists for prevention, in addition to suppression of chronic tinnitus once permanently established. With the exception of the most severely affected individuals, invasive or aggressive therapies involving surgical intervention or use of neurologically active drugs are not attractive options. For the majority, dietary factors, known as nutraceuticals, that can prevent hearing loss or suppress tinnitus after injury has occurred are preferable. Some nutraceutical supplements have proven effective in preventing noise- or chemically induced damage to the auditory system and/or suppress tinnitus that results post-trauma. However, some nutraceuticals that have proven to be effective in preventing noise-induced hearing loss are not generally effective in suppressing chronic tinnitus post-trauma. One nutraceutical that has proven effective at high doses in the post-trauma suppression of chronic tinnitus in animals is taurine. Naturally occurring substances that are related to taurine are likely to be more effective than taurine itself, help to determine the mechanism by which high levels of taurine suppress tinnitus, and explain why other nutraceuticals only prevent hearing damage, but are not later effective in suppressing tinnitus that results from hearing damage. These other, potentially new, nutraceuticals will be tested for their relative ability to suppress tinnitus in an animal model. If, as expected, they are more effective than taurine, they could be developed as safe dietary supplements for tinnitus suppression. New strategies for the treatment of tinnitus are an expected outcome for the proposed study. Future results include, but are not limited to, the development of new nutraceuticals for the suppression of tinnitus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510313
Entities
People
- John Schloss
Organizations
- Marshall University
- United States Army