Towards molecular understanding of hearing loss, tinnitus and vestibular dysfunction: an interdisciplinary approach
In the dissertation titled 'Towards molecular understanding of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular dysfunction: an interdisciplinary approach,' drs. Nick Schubert conducts research on tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and balance disorders, specifically vestibular dysfunction. The dissertation is structured into three parts. Part 1 of the dissertation demonstrates that tinnitus is prevalent in the general population and has a small hereditary component. Tinnitus is genetically correlated with sensorineural hearing loss, depressive and anxiety disorders, suggesting that common mechanisms may play a role in these conditions. Part 2 of the dissertation shows that common mechanisms may be involved in vestibular dysfunction and perceptual hearing loss. Part 3, which focuses on the molecular mechanisms of hearing loss, reveals that the various substructures of the cochlea (the inner ear) show unique gene expression patterns. Different mechanisms within these substructures are also implicated in aging and hearing loss. This dissertation also investigates whether existing drugs can target these mechanisms to accelerate research into new therapies for hearing loss.