Reversing hereditary deafness could be possible with brain ‘switch’ breakthrough
Scientists have discovered tiny hairs that convert sound into electrical signals that the brain can interpret to target a particular gene
A BRAIN “switch” that could reverse hereditary deafness has been discovered by scientists.
Tiny hairs that convert sound to electrical signals which the brain can interpret were regenerated with chemicals that targeted a particular gene.
Hearing in mice was restored during tests, which focused on deafness caused by a mutation called DFNA27.
Dr Thomas Friedman, of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Maryland, said: “We were able to partially restore hearing, especially at lower frequencies.
"If additional studies show small-molecule-based drugs are effective in treating DFNA27 deafness in people, it is possible using similar approaches might work for other inherited forms of progressive hearing loss."
Lead author Professor Botond Banfi, of the University of Iowa, said: "We found incorporating exon 4 into REST acts like a switch in sensory hair cells.
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"It turns off REST and allows many genes to be turned on. Some of these turned-on genes are important for hair cell survival and hearing."
Dr Andrew Griffith, scientific director of the NIDCD, said: "These results demonstrate the value of studying the molecular mechanisms that underlie inherited forms of deafness.
"By following these genetic leads, we find novel and unexpected pathways that can, in cases such as this one, uncover unexpected potential treatment strategies in humans."
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