Scientists have claimed a breakthrough in the search for a cure for tinnitus.
The potentially debilitating condition was reduced in mice by blocking a protein that fuels brain inflammation.
The researchers have suggested the findings could pave the way for a new therapy following future trials.
Tinnitus is a common sensation where a person hears a ringing in the ears. It is not known exactly what causes the condition but around 10 per cent of people live with chronic tinnitus.
In mice that had noise-induced hearing loss, the study showed inflammation in the sound processing region of the brain controlled ringing in the ears.
Lead author professor Shaowen Bao at the University of Arizona said: “Hearing loss is a widespread condition that affects approximately 500 million individuals, and is a major risk factor for tinnitus – the perception of noise or ringing in the ears.”
Recent research suggests hearing loss causes inflammation – the immune system’s response to injury and infection – in the auditory pathway.
But its contribution to hearing loss-related conditions such as tinnitus is still poorly understood.
The findings suggest that treating inflammation in the sound processing region of the brain could lead to a treatment or cure for tinnitus and other hearing loss-related disorders.
Professor Bao added that although the therapy was successful in animals, further studies to investigate potential adverse effects needed to be done before any human trials.
