Neuroinflammation Mediates Noise-Induced Synaptic Imbalance and Tinnitus in Rodent Models

I haven't read any of this here before, I don't know if I have missed something?

"The study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, suggests it is caused by a molecule called TNF-A (tumour necrosis factor alpha) that disrupts communication between neurons. Blocking it pharmacologically also prevented tinnitus in lab rodents that developed the condition after being exposed to loud noise for two hours."

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/18/new-breakthrough-pill-could-cure-tinnitus-10006638/

 

Thanks Markku, I was too tired to write more but wanted to get it out there.

 

Perhaps inflammation could explain why we feel a discomfort/small headache.

I also remember Dr. Rauschecker saying he felt the same discomfort in the beginning synchronized to the tinnitus tone when it was on / off at the start in the Tinnitus Talk Podcast.

https://neurosciencenews.com/brain-inflammation-tinnitus-14262/
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000307

 

Maybe this is the real answer, awfully quick naming the molecules and cells causing it. As well as stopping it in rats and mice in it’s tracks.

 

Is this treatment only for acute tinnitus? I couldn't determine this by reading the paper.

 

I don’t think it’s a treatment, they’re saying they found something new getting closer to the puzzle.

 

Actually they are saying that this pill in question is a possible treatment to tinnitus (it cured the mice), thought it needs to further be tested for safety before even initiating trials on humans.

 

This is extremely interesting. I wonder if this is part of unlocking a true cure when combined with the work on the KCNQ2/3 potassium channels and the HCN channels being done by Prof. Tzounopoulos.

 

Wow my friend was telling the truth. She called to tell me about the article and i was like wait what are you talking about... She was all excited about the possibility of a cure for me bless her. Hope its a step in the right direction.

 

Wow so this contradicts the limbic system theory then? Can someone explain if it’s a piece of the puzzle or a different theory?

What about intermittent tinnitus? Please let this be true please.

 

If this does end up being ‘the cure’ it will need to go through the human testing that will take up to 10 years (that’s even if it’s successful)

Everybody going nuts on LADbible - the article gives the everyday person the impression like it will be available soon and in reality that’s not the case. Still good news however.

 

Never seen so many comments or activity on a Facebook post about tinnitus

 

Science journalism and sensationalism at its finest.

 

They did not specify in article. The actual journal on PLOS may have that information.

To be honest from what I know of psychology, other people who studied it more than I did, and from the research I have read into, I don't feel like the limbic system theory holds its weight. It could be a contributor, but it seems unlikely to be a root cause.

From what I've seen, most studies seem to show that the changes to the limbic system and other parts of the brain come after tinnitus onset.

 

Interesting - always curious how the limbic system theory and Will Sedley's “once you see it you can’t unsee it” worked with people with intermittent tinnitus or those for whom it fades.

I am sure they have an explanation although Dr Rauschecker’s one left me scratching my head as it seemed too simplistic but I realise he was simplifying for the interview with Tinnitus Talk.

Ah it’s also in the Daily Mail of course.

 

Almost every comment is someone talking about their tinnitus.

 

This makes it seem that this will be a preemptive / right after acoustic trauma treatment.

It doesn’t seem like it will treat chronic tinnitus.

 

I don't have the time to read through the whole study. But I did find this:

"Our results suggest that noise exposure can initiate such a self-sustained, positive feedback loop of neuroinflammatory responses. Furthermore, noise-induced neuroinflammatory responses could result in excitatory-to-inhibitory synaptic imbalance and cause behavioral/perceptual pathologies such as tinnitus"

So as the loop of neuroinflammatory responses is self-sustaining, the loop might just be the cause of the persistence of tinnitus. And breaking the loop would be independent of the point in time where it came into existence, thus doing so would 'cure' both acute and chronic tinnitus, because they are, in fact, the same.

 

https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/18/new-breakthrough-pill-could-cure-tinnitus-10006638/

"New breakthrough pill could cure tinnitus", hahaha that Metro article is going to end up being targeted by the JUST SAYS IN MICE bullshit busting Twitter account.


The study looked at TNF alpha knockouts in mice. TNF alpha is a cytokine thought to be involved in systemic inflammation. I was cutting down on my use of a TNF alpha inhibitor when I got tinnitus. I remember wondered if there was a link because the last time I'd tried to come off that drug a few years earlier, I'd got a constant headache that lasted years.

So I wonder if inflammation is linked to tinnitus and inflammatory spikes can precipitate the condition. I mean it's interesting that steroids are using to treat new onset hearing loss and tinnitus. I see that it is currently not understood why steroids can help acute hearing loss and tinnitus.

 

Just saw a tweet by the ATA about this study, didn't know that Professor Shaowen Bao, who co-authored the study, is part of the ATA's Scientific Advisory Committee Member.

 

Oh wow, the ATA is actually doing something!

 

ATA itself is as useful as a fart, Professor Bao is just part of their scientific advisory board who decides on the small number of grants ATA gives to researchers.

 

It was sarcasm lol

 

I have intermittent tinnitus as well. My tinnitus fluctuates wildly. I often wonder why and how this is possible? Maybe investigating the brains of people with cycling tinnitus could lead to further discoveries? The limbic system may certainly come into play at onset, but how does it account for tinnitus that is intermittent or tinnitus that fades? That's a good question that deserves further investigation.

 

At least they posted something finally......what in the heck do they do all day???

 

Not necessarily. The FDA has promising tinnitus treatments on the fast track processing. Of course that doesn’t mean the these options will be available to the public within a satisfactory timeframe, but 10 years is definitely a stretch.

 

Which treatments are these?

 

I’m not sure if any specific treatments have been released and are currently an open to the public. But the FDA has a fast track processing for serious conditions that have yet to be effectively treated so that any promising treatments can reach the public faster than they otherwise would. This article is certainly good news, and it should provide hope for all whose tinnitus is an issue.

 

FDA has never mentioned tinnitus being a serious enough condition to be eligible for fast track. We don't know if any drug or treatment will ever be fast tracked when it comes to tinnitus. Usually serious conditions mean Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, MS, and others...