title: Synergistic effects of free radical scavengers and cochlear vasodilators: a new otoprotective strategy for age-related hearing loss.
abstract: The growing increase in age-related hearing loss (ARHL), with its dramatic reduction in quality of life and significant increase in health care costs, is a catalyst to develop new therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce this aging-associated condition. In this regard, there is extensive evidence that excessive free radical formation along with diminished cochlear blood flow are essential factors involved in mechanisms of other stress-related hearing loss, such as that associated with noise or ototoxic drug exposure. The emerging view is that both play key roles in ARHL pathogenesis. Therapeutic targeting of excessive free radical formation and cochlear blood flow regulation may be a useful strategy to prevent onset of ARHL. Supporting this idea, micronutrient-based therapies, in particular those combining antioxidants and vasodilators like magnesium (Mg(2+)), have proven effective in reducing the impact of noise and ototoxic drugs in the inner ear, therefore improving auditory function. In this review, the synergistic effects of combinations of antioxidant free radicals scavengers and cochlear vasodilators will be discussed as a feasible therapeutic approach for the treatment of ARHL.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Santamaría
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melgar-Rojas
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: María Llanos
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: María Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gabaldón-Ull
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden ; Kresge Hearing Research Institute, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Josef M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE) Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Juiz
keywords: antioxidants; cochlear blood flow; magnesium; oxidative stress; presbyacusis; sensorineural hearing loss; vitamins