Mass General Brigham Have Identified New Biomarkers for Tinnitus

[Jammer]

New 'hidden in plain sight' facial and eye biomarkers for tinnitus severity could unlock path to testing treatments

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have identified facial muscle twitches and pupil dilation as subtle biomarkers linked to tinnitus severity. Using AI-powered software, they found these responses could serve as objective indicators of tinnitus distress. This discovery could lead to more accurate diagnostics and personalized treatments, potentially accessible through consumer-grade electronics.

 

[Ken219]

New 'hidden in plain sight' facial and eye biomarkers for tinnitus severity could unlock path to testing treatments

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have identified facial muscle twitches and pupil dilation as subtle biomarkers linked to tinnitus severity. Using AI-powered software, they found these responses could serve as objective indicators of tinnitus distress. This discovery could lead to more accurate diagnostics and personalized treatments, potentially accessible through consumer-grade electronics.

It feels like a dead end. Ask me how I am feeling.

 

[PhillyBill]

Yes, Dr. Polley and your team! Cheering you on!

 

[Fra]

Okay, these results look like an intriguing exercise, but they do not seem to have a realistic future in tinnitus diagnostics. Basically, and excuse me if I am oversimplifying, they found that: tinnitus → distress → bodily expressions of distress. It looks interesting but unconvincing.

The path from tinnitus to measurable outcomes passes through so many steps that it is easily influenced by a countless variety of co-factors. The best results will likely come when researchers develop ways to achieve much higher MRI resolution, or something like the recently explored optical coherence tomography (OCT), which creates a three-dimensional image of tissue using light waves.

Those are promising directions, and they are being advanced by broader developments in medical technology.