Desk Report,
Scientists discover technique to restore hearing through gene therapy
A team of scientists from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute has discovered a technique to restore hearing in a few weeks through gene therapy. Scientists claim that a single dose of gene therapy can improve people’s hearing loss in a few weeks. This cutting-edge therapy has improved the hearing of children and adults with congenital deafness or hearing loss. In a clinical trial, a seven-year-old child has regained almost complete hearing. A research paper on this has been published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Scientists discover technique to restore hearing through gene therapy
According to scientists, a mutation in the OTOF gene causes a deficiency in the protein otoferlin. Then, many people develop deafness because sound signals are not sent from the ear to the brain properly. In the study, ten hearing-impaired people were injected with a copy of a gene called OTOF, and their hearing improved rapidly. So far, this therapy has worked best in children. Scientists claim that after six months of therapy, the hearing of ten people with hearing loss improved from an average of 106 decibels to 52 decibels. In the study, five to eight-year-olds responded best. A seven-year-old girl quickly regained her hearing.
Regarding the new discovery, Karolinska Institute scientist Mauli Duan said, “This is the first time this method has been tested in adolescents and adults. Many participants have significantly improved their hearing. The treatment is safe and tolerable. No adverse reactions have been reported. Work is now underway on other common genes responsible for deafness, such as GJB2 and TMC1. These are quite complex to treat. We are confident. We hope that patients with various types of genetic deafness will one day be able to receive treatment.”
A team of scientists from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute has discovered a technique to restore hearing in a few weeks through gene therapy. Scientists claim that a single dose of gene therapy can improve people’s hearing loss in a few weeks. This cutting-edge therapy has improved the hearing of children and adults with congenital deafness or hearing loss. In a clinical trial, a seven-year-old child has regained almost complete hearing. A research paper on this has been published in the journal Nature Medicine. According to scientists, a mutation in the OTOF gene causes a deficiency in the protein otoferlin. Then, many people develop deafness because sound signals are not sent from the ear to the brain properly. In the study, ten hearing-impaired people were injected with a copy of a gene called OTOF, and their hearing improved rapidly. So far, this therapy has worked best in children. Scientists claim that after six months of therapy, the hearing of ten people with hearing loss improved from an average of 106 decibels to 52 decibels. In the study, five to eight-year-olds responded best. A seven-year-old girl quickly regained her hearing.
Regarding the new discovery, Karolinska Institute scientist Mauli Duan said, “This is the first time this method has been tested in adolescents and adults. Many participants have significantly improved their hearing. The treatment is safe and tolerable. No adverse reactions have been reported. Work is now underway on other common genes responsible for deafness, such as GJB2 and TMC1. These are quite complex to treat. We are confident. We hope that patients with various types of genetic deafness will one day be able to receive treatment.”
