Scientists have successfully ‘reprogrammed’ ear cells to make them grow the hairs which allow humans and animals to hear sounds.

The astonishing discovery brings us ‘a step closer to developing treatments that regrow the missing cells that cause hearing loss’, although applying the treatment to our species is still a long way off.

A team from Harvard University ‘reprogrammed’ the inner ear cells of mice and made them regrow hairs.

‘This paper is the first to show that, by reprogramming, mature mammalian inner ear cells can be induced to divide and become hair cells, which are needed for hearing,’ said senior study author Zheng-Yi Chen, DPhil, an associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Harvard Medical School.

‘These findings of renewed proliferation and hair cell generation in a fully mature inner ear lay the foundation for the application of reprogramming and hair cell regeneration.’

Hearing loss affects 11 million people in the UK and 37 million in the US.

The inner ear cells of humans and other mammals lack the capacity to divide or regenerate, which means that damage is irreversible.

They worked by turning vibrations in the air into electrical signals which are relayed to the brain, but are easily destroyed by exposure to loud sounds and aging.

There are currently no pharmaceutical treatments available for hearing loss.

Previous research has showed cells can be made to regenerate hairs, but not in ‘fully mature’ ears.

Dr Chen said “it is essential to demonstrate that cell division and hair cell regeneration can be achieved in a mature mammalian inner ear’ if we are to cure hearing problems.

They reprogrammed cells by activating two ‘molecular signals’ which made the cells divide, with some of the cells taking on the properties of hair cells.

‘Our work revealed that reprogramming is achieved by re-activation of early inner ear developmental genes so that the mature inner ear regains neonatal properties, which enables them to re-divide and regenerate,’ Dr Chen explained.

‘The most significant aspect of the current study is the fact that fully mature mammalian inner ear still retains the capacity to divide and regenerate if it is sufficiently reprogrammed, which removes a fundamental barrier that has prevented the inner ear regeneration necessary for hearing restoration.’

The team is now working to make drugs which can stimulate the process of regrowing ear hairs.

‘We hope that our research can serve as a model for regeneration of other tissues with similar properties that are unable to regrow cells, such as in the retina and the central nervous system,’ Dr Chen added.

Along with difficulty communicating, people with hearing loss are at risk for a number of associated medical problems if they do not take steps to seek treatment. The correlation between hearing loss and a number of physical, social and psychological conditions is well-established; one of the most common is depression.

The Correlation Between Hearing Loss and Depression

Approximately 48 million Americans experience hearing loss. New patients experience a variety of emotions including stress, anxiety, fatigue and social isolation, all of which are factors that can lead to depression. A study by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) showed that 11.4 percent of individuals with hearing loss suffered from depression, a significantly higher percentage than those with good (7.1 percent) or excellent (4.9 percent) hearing. Those aged 18 to 69 were determined to most likely experience depression.

People with hearing loss are also more likely to withdraw from social activities. This increases their risk as social isolation worsens depression.

The key is recognizing the symptoms of depression early. Depression can manifest itself with feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and while these are the most common outward signs, they aren’t the only ones. Less obvious symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Concentration difficulties
• Loss of interest in activities and hobbies that usually bring joy

It often takes a close friend or family member to notice these types of behavioral changes.

Hearing Aids can Help Treat Depression

The earlier you receive treatment for hearing loss, the less likely you are to experience depression. The following signs, established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, are useful in determining the possibility of hearing loss:

• Difficulty understanding speech, especially in the presence of background noise
• The individual isolates themselves from social gatherings and public situations
• They watch television or listen to music at volume levels others find uncomfortable
• They ask people to repeat themselves

Any of these signs should prompt you to schedule a hearing evaluation with Dr. Jill Davis as soon as possible.

If hearing loss is causing depression, treatment might be as simple as turning on your hearing aids. Researchers at the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics found that every patient they studied who wore hearing aids showed a significant decline in negative psychosocial and cognitive conditions within 90 days. To reduce your risk of depression, be sure to wear your hearing aids regularly. Depression is a widespread ailment with serious consequences; avoiding it will only lead to worse health long-term.

As young student, I was always amazed at the configurations of the boundaries between East boundary of North and South Americas and the Western boundary of Europe and Africa. They just seemed to “fit” together.

These excerpts from “Google” suggest that all seven (7) continents were one land mass at one time. This scientific explanation also provides answers to some of my other questions over my time searching to answers of WHY?

1. How did humankind migrate across the oceans? Well maybe they did not have to.
2. Yes, there is a logical explanation as how the Indigenous people may have migrated over the “ice bridge” from Asia to Canada. I saw evidence of in Yukon Cemetaries where the practices of placing a deceased belongings into a covered headstone that suggests the Slavic custom
3. Why do the Egyptian Pyramids seem to be alike to the Inca and Mayan Pyramids in the Americas?

Well, I just thought I should share this information with those of you who may have asked similar questions.

Posted September 21, 2022 by EWV