Researchers may have discovered a way to reverse some types of hearing loss.
New research shows that hearing loss Erectile dysfunction caused by certain genetic mutations at birth can be reversed with a combination of common supplements and the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil).
Researchers have identified mutations in a gene known as CPD, which produces an enzyme called carboxypeptidase D, in three unrelated families in Turkey where multiple people were born deaf.
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All of these families had a type of hereditary sensorineural hearing loss. This hearing loss is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals. to the brainaccording to the National Institutes of Health.
To better understand this association, scientists compared genetic data of affected and unaffected relatives within these families. They then expanded their analysis to other groups.
“We subsequently found in a large UK genome sequencing cohort that CPD mutations were present in patients with hearing loss,” study author Dr. Mustafa Tekin, professor of human genetics and chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told FOX News Digital.
After turning, CPD gene The researchers noted that in clinical tests, levels of three substances in the “off” state of human cells were reduced: arginine (an amino acid), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP, an important signaling molecule), and nitric oxide, which provides important signals to the nervous system.
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Although this research began in humans, reversal experiments were also performed in mice and fruit flies.
Low levels of nitric oxide and cGMP put too much stress on the hair cells in the mice’s inner ears, which carry sound signals to the brain, and they eventually died.
Researchers found that silencing the gene that corresponds to the CPD gene in fruit flies causes defects in organs that help detect sound and maintain balance.
But when researchers administered arginine, human cellsnitric oxide levels returned to normal, resulting in decreased cell death.
They also found that Viagra, which acts on the nitric oxide pathway, reverses some of the defects caused by CPD mutations, Tekin added.
These findings suggest that nitric oxide deficiency in the cochlea, the part of the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve signals, may be a major cause of hearing loss. of CPD gene It appears to regulate this process by maintaining appropriate levels of arginine and nitric oxide within hair cells. These levels are essential for healthy signal transmission and protection from noise-related damage.
“Nitric oxide is essential for many tissues, and a delicate balance must be maintained,” Tekin says.
However, the authors emphasized that they are not proposing Viagra as a treatment for hearing loss.
“We used this to strengthen our case that nitric oxide deficiency in the ear is the root cause of hearing loss,” Tekin said.
Outside experts also warned of serious side effects of Viagra.
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medicine Dr. Noushin Perhizkar, an otolaryngologist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, told FOX News Digital that although rare, it is associated with severe sudden hearing loss and irreversible tinnitus, highlighting the need for caution.
“At this stage, it is not appropriate or safe for the general public to use Viagra for any purpose. hearing problems” she added.
Research shows that hearing loss is usually temporary and resolves when the medication is stopped.
The Food and Drug Administration added a warning label to Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors about the possible risk of sudden hearing loss after rare reports among people who used the same class of drugs.
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It is unclear whether this side effect is directly caused by PDE5 inhibitors, as affected patients may suffer from other side effects. medical issues Or you may be taking other medications that may have caused your hearing loss, experts say.
The study focused on a very small, genetically defined group of patients, so it is unlikely to apply to most of the population, Parkhizkar noted.
This study also focused on restoring hearing loss in mice and flies, so further research is needed to evaluate treatment in humans.
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“It is important to get Genetic test completed Find the cause of the hearing loss,” Tekin advised.
Scientists have identified more than 200 genes associated with hearing loss, but commercially available genetic screening tests may only focus on the most common mutations.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the manufacturer of Viagra for comment.
