Newly Identified Genes May Help to Screen and Treat Individuals with Hearing Loss
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 17 May 2022 |
|
A massive genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 10 novel gene loci associated with hearing loss, which may aid in screening and treating the disorder.
Hearing loss is one of the top contributors to years lived with disability and is a risk factor for developing dementia. Hearing loss is a major medical problem worldwide with an estimated 2.4 billion individuals expected to have some form of hearing loss by the year 2050.
Molecular evidence on the cellular origins of hearing loss in humans is growing. In this regard, investigators at King's College London (United Kingdom) and colleagues at Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) and Erasmus University (Rotterdam, Netherlands) performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis of clinically diagnosed and self-reported hearing impairment on 723,266 individuals. The study comprised 147,997 affected individuals and 575,269 control subjects including 60,941 affected individuals that were not included in a previously published GWAS meta-analysis.
Results of the meta-analysis revealed 48 genes linked to hearing loss, including 10 novel variants newly linked to hearing.
Contributing author Dr. Frances Williams, professor of genomic epidemiology at King's College London, said, "Our findings identify 10 genes newly linked with hearing loss. This study points to genes we could target for screening purposes, drug development. and even gene therapy in the future. This study provides a solid foundation for ultimately improving therapies against hearing loss."
The study was published in the May 16, 2022, online edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Related Links:
King's College London
Karolinska Institute
Erasmus University
.jpg)
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Blood-Based RNA Biomarker Improves Prediction of Alzheimer’s Onset
- Gene Expression Test Supports Metastatic Risk Assessment in Melanoma
- Multiplex PCR Test Identifies Seven STI Pathogens in One Hour
- CSF Sequencing Test Aligns with Updated Brain Tumor Guidelines
- Framework Outlines Genomic Testing Strategy for Safer Drug Dosing in Africa
- Point-of-Care PCR Panel Delivers Vaginitis Results in 20 Minutes
- Blood Test Reveals Hidden Pancreatic Cancer After Treatment
- Gene Expression Test Refines Melanoma Biopsy Decision-Making
- Genomic Assays Predict Anthracycline Benefit in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
- Ultrasensitive ctDNA Assay Detects MRD in Breast, Colorectal, Renal Cancers
- Model Predicts Increased ALS Clinic Visits with Expanded Genetic Testing
- Genetic Marker Supports Anti-TNF Therapy Selection in Crohn’s Disease
- Female-Specific RNA Biomarker May Help Explain Sex Differences in Immune Disease
- Genomic Test Guides Taxane-Based Chemotherapy Selection in Breast Cancer
- RNA Blood Test May Enable Earlier Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis
- AI Reasoning Model Generates Diagnostic Leads for Unresolved Rare Disease Cases
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
FDA-Approved Test Identifies Low Risk of Large Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis
Chronic liver disease contributes substantially to mortality, and clinicians routinely screen adults with compensated cirrhosis for varices to prevent bleeding. However, endoscopy is invasive and reso... Read more
Blood Protein Signature Diagnoses Pediatric IBD and Distinguishes Subtypes
Confirming pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often requires imaging, endoscopy, and histopathology, prolonging time to diagnosis. Reliable, noninvasive blood tests remain an unmet need in routine... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Next-Generation Hematology Platform Streamlines High-Complexity Lab Workflows
Sysmex America (Chicago, IL, USA) has introduced the next generation XR-Series, centered on the XR-10 Automated Hematology Module for high-complexity laboratories. The platform builds on the widely used... Read more
Blood Eosinophil Count May Predict Cancer Immunotherapy Response and Toxicity
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved outcomes across many cancers, yet only a subset of patients derive durable benefit and biomarkers to guide treatment remain limited. Eosinophils, best known for... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Anti-Lipid Antibody Biomarkers May Identify Early Lyme Disease and Persistent Symptoms
Lyme disease is often missed during its earliest and most treatable stage, while current serologic assays cannot distinguish active infection from prior exposure. Nearly half a million Americans are diagnosed... Read more
Emergency Department Opt-Out Testing Program Identifies Undiagnosed HIV
Undiagnosed HIV continues to drive avoidable morbidity and transmission, with many people identified only after substantial immune damage has occurred. In England, about one in 20 people living with HIV... Read more
Immune Biomarkers Could Identify Risk of Chronic Critical Illness on ICU Admission
Severe traumatic injury can trigger immune and organ dysfunction that complicates recovery in the intensive care unit. A subset of patients develop chronic critical illness, defined as dependence on intensive... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
H. pylori Screening Within Colorectal Program Aids Gastric Cancer Prevention
Health systems increasingly rely on economic evidence to guide cancer prevention strategies. For gastric cancer, selecting screening approaches that can integrate with existing programs is a key policy question.... Read more
Machine Learning Reveals Consistent Gut Microbiome Patterns in Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer has been repeatedly linked to alterations in the gut microbiome, yet findings have often varied across small, heterogeneous studies. Reproducibility has been limited by differing sequencing... Read more
Pathology
view channel
AI Pathology Tool Predicts Immunotherapy Response in Rare Cancers
Immunotherapy has transformed care for select malignancies, yet predicting which patients with rare cancers are most likely to benefit remains challenging. Clinicians often have only limited biomarkers... Read more
Uncertainty-Aware AI Tool Improves Digital Pathology for Cancer Subtyping
Reliable histologic subtyping guides therapy selection in oncology, yet diagnostic workflows grow more complex as whole-slide imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) expand. A persistent obstacle to clinical... Read more
Technology
view channel
AI Platform Links Biomarker Results to Cancer Clinical Trials and Guidelines
Oncology teams must manage growing volumes of genomic data, rapidly evolving clinical trial options, and frequently updated care guidelines, all within tight clinic schedules. Translating complex tumor... Read more
Agentic AI Platform Supports Genomic Decision-Making in Oncology
Oncology care teams increasingly face the challenge of managing complex molecular diagnostics, evolving treatment options, and extensive electronic health record documentation. Translating multimodal data... Read more
Industry
view channel
Partnership Integrates Automated DNA Extraction with Single-Molecule Digital PCR
Countable Labs (Palo Alto, CA, USA) and Promega (Madison, WI, USA) have entered a co-marketing agreement that integrates the Promega Maxwell System for nucleic acid extraction with Countable Labs’ Countable... Read more
