Kyushu University — Growth Factors with Valproic Acid Restore Injury-Impaired Hearing in Mice

Growth factors with valproic acid restore injury-impaired hearing by promoting neuronal regeneration (PDF)

As far as I can tell it doesn't look groundbreaking in terms of hearing restoration. They went from ≈60 dB ABR wave thresholds pre-injury, down past 100 dB after injury and then back to ≈90 dB after treatment. Or am I missing anything?

Also, they started treatment after 7 days. I'm not sure if any details would imply that long-term damage would or wouldn't benefit?

 

It's good to be on the alert and take a wide view of things. Just focusing on the one, whether it's hearing loss, inner hair cell, outer hair cell, stereocilia or synapse damage is good but maybe not the wisest.

Roll on 2022 results.