The researchers, led by Lancaster University in the UK, said it is still unclear whether hearing loss is related to or caused by the neurodegenerative condition, which affects movement and coordination and can also cause tremors or shaking. Proposing possible mechanisms, the team suggested that decreased dopamine levels may play a role, as previous studies have found low dopamine levels in both individuals with hearing loss and patients with Parkinson's disease. Dopamine is thought to be important for processing sound.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that hearing loss is not an isolated condition, but is associated with many other disorders. “Understanding these relationships is important if we are to provide effective patient care, improving independence and quality of life for affected individuals,” said Professor Christopher Plack, from the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University. For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 1.6 lakh individuals in the UK Biobank dataset. The participants had previously undergone hearing tests that measured how well they could recognize speech in a noisy environment and had no history of Parkinson's disease at the time of the assessment. Over a follow-up period of more than 14 years, 810 participants were diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition.
“For every 10 decibel increase in hearing loss, the risk of Parkinson's increases by 57 percent,” the authors wrote. Lead researcher Megan Readman, postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University, said: “These findings are incredibly important. This is one of the first studies to look at how hearing loss can increase the risk of Parkinson's or provide an early warning sign. Additionally, by identifying factors that contribute to the onset of Parkinson's disease, such as hearing impairment, the findings may pave the way for prevention and care, Reedman said. show that hearing impairment is intricately related to Parkinson's disease and highlight the potential benefits of addressing auditory function in Parkinson's diagnosis and follow-up care.”
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