Katharine Brewster1, C Jean Choi2, Xiaofu He3, Ana H Kim4, Justin S Golub4, Patrick J Brown3, Ying Liu3, Steven P Roose3, Bret R Rutherford3. 1. New York State Psychiatric Institute (KB), Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Electronic address: Katharine.Brewster@nyspi.columbia.edu. 2. Division of Mental Health Data Science (CJC), New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. 3. New York State Psychiatric Institute (XH, PJB, YL, SPR, BRR), Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. 4. Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (AHK, JSG), New York, NY.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Recent research has revealed important neural and psychiatric consequences of hearing loss (HL) in older adults. This pilot study examined the neural effects of HL and the impact of hearing aids on neuropsychiatric outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). DESIGN: Twelve-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTION: N = 25 (≥60 years) with MDD and moderate-profound HL were randomized to receive hearing aids (100% gain targets) or sham hearing aids (flat 30 dB HL) in addition to psychiatric treatment-as-usual. MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]), executive functioning (NIH Toolbox Flanker), integrity of auditory brain areas (structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging). RESULTS: At baseline, worse speech discrimination was associated with auditory cortical thinning (Left anterior transverse temporal gyrus: r = 0.755, p = 0.012) and lower integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (FA: Left r = 0.772, p = 0.025, Right r = 0.782, p = 0.022). After 12-weeks, hearing aids were effective at improving hearing functioning (Hearing Handicap for the Elderly: active -12.47 versus sham -4.19, t = -2.64, df = 18, p = 0.016) and immediate memory (active +14.9 versus sham +5.7, t = 2.28, df = 16, p = 0.037). Moderate improvement was observed for hearing aids on executive functioning but did not reach statistical significance (Flanker: active +4.8 versus sham -2.4, t = 1.95, df = 15, p = 0.071). No significant effect on depression was found (HRSD: active -5.50 versus sham -7.32, t = 0.75, df = 19, p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: HL can affect brain regions important for auditory and cognitive processing, and hearing remediation may have beneficial effects on executive functioning in MDD. Future studies may evaluate whether impairment in cognitive control consequent to HL may be an important risk mechanism for MDD.
OBJECTIVES: Recent research has revealed important neural and psychiatric consequences of hearing loss (HL) in older adults. This pilot study examined the neural effects of HL and the impact of hearing aids on neuropsychiatric outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). DESIGN: Twelve-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTION: N = 25 (≥60 years) with MDD and moderate-profound HL were randomized to receive hearing aids (100% gain targets) or sham hearing aids (flat 30 dB HL) in addition to psychiatric treatment-as-usual. MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]), executive functioning (NIH Toolbox Flanker), integrity of auditory brain areas (structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging). RESULTS: At baseline, worse speech discrimination was associated with auditory cortical thinning (Left anterior transverse temporal gyrus: r = 0.755, p = 0.012) and lower integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (FA: Left r = 0.772, p = 0.025, Right r = 0.782, p = 0.022). After 12-weeks, hearing aids were effective at improving hearing functioning (Hearing Handicap for the Elderly: active -12.47 versus sham -4.19, t = -2.64, df = 18, p = 0.016) and immediate memory (active +14.9 versus sham +5.7, t = 2.28, df = 16, p = 0.037). Moderate improvement was observed for hearing aids on executive functioning but did not reach statistical significance (Flanker: active +4.8 versus sham -2.4, t = 1.95, df = 15, p = 0.071). No significant effect on depression was found (HRSD: active -5.50 versus sham -7.32, t = 0.75, df = 19, p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: HL can affect brain regions important for auditory and cognitive processing, and hearing remediation may have beneficial effects on executive functioning in MDD. Future studies may evaluate whether impairment in cognitive control consequent to HL may be an important risk mechanism for MDD.
Authors: Carolyn L Turvey; Yeates Conwell; Michael P Jones; Caroline Phillips; Eleanor Simonsick; Jane L Pearson; Robert Wallace Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2002 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 4.105
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