Presbycusis Across the Lifespan: Genetic, Molecular, and Multi-Omics Contributions.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing existing biological and epidemiological concepts without systematic search or meta-analytic methods.
PubMed 42345621 · doi:10.3390/audiolres16030081
What was done
This was a narrative review synthesizing literature on the genetic, molecular, and environmental determinants of presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). The authors examined how genetic predisposition interacts with cumulative environmental exposures and lifestyle factors across the lifespan to drive cochlear aging, neural degeneration, and clinical progression.
What was found
The abstract provides a conceptual overview without reporting quantitative data or specific numerical metrics. It summarizes that presbycusis involves progressive, bilateral high-frequency sensorineural decline driven by genetic susceptibility, oxidative stress, and microvascular dysfunction, compounded by noise exposure, ototoxic medications, smoking, and metabolic/cardiovascular disorders. The review also highlights documented associations between age-related hearing loss and downstream cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, and frailty.
Why it matters
The paper synthesizes the multifactorial pathways underlying age-related hearing loss to help frame targets for early identification, prevention, and personalized management strategies.
Limits
This is a narrative review presenting no original empirical data, quantitative synthesis, or systematic search methodologies. Specific effect sizes, population numbers, and relative risks for individual genetic or lifestyle contributors are not provided in the abstract.