Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 123, Dapi Rd., Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Apr 25;60(5):703. doi: 10.3390/medicina60050703.
Hearing loss has been recognized as a risk factor for dementia and non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) protein contributes to maintenance and repair of neuronal cell membranes, causing age-related disorders. This study aimed to analyze the impact of hearing loss on cognitive impairment, PD severity, and APOE gene expression in these patients. A total of 72 out-patients diagnosed with either PD or hearing loss were enrolled in this study. The hearing assessment included pure-tone audiometry, speech reception thresholds, and speech discrimination ability. Dementia was assessed by filling out the Clinical Dementia Rating and Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaires. The severity of PD was assessed using the Modified Hoehn and Yahr scale. Blood samples were tested for the gene expression of APOE. Out of the 72 cases, there were 44 males and 28 females, with an average age of 64.4 ± 9.1 years. A total of 41 out of 72 cases had dementia and had a worse hearing threshold than those without dementia (47.1 ± 24.4 vs. 31.7 ± 22.1 dB, = 0.006). A total of 58 patients were diagnosed with PD, with 14 of them classified as having severe symptoms (Modified Hoehn and Yahr scale > 2). Patients with severe PD were found to have a worse hearing threshold (49.6 ± 28.3 vs. 30.3 ± 17.8 dB, = 0.028) and higher prevalence of dementia (12/14 vs. 18/44, = 0.006). Among 10 individuals with the APOE ε4 gene, the prevalence of dementia was higher than those without the ε4 allele (9/10 vs. 32/62, = 0.036). Hearing loss is common in severe PD and in dementia patients. Severe PD has a negative impact on the hearing threshold and cognitive dysfunction. Patients with APOE ε4 have a higher prevalence of dementia.
听力损失已被认为是痴呆症和帕金森病（PD）非运动特征的一个风险因素。载脂蛋白 E（APOE）蛋白有助于维持和修复神经元细胞膜，导致与年龄相关的疾病。本研究旨在分析听力损失对这些患者认知障碍、PD 严重程度和 APOE 基因表达的影响。
共有 72 名被诊断为 PD 或听力损失的门诊患者纳入本研究。听力评估包括纯音测听、言语接受阈和言语辨别能力。痴呆症通过填写临床痴呆评定量表和简易精神状态检查问卷进行评估。PD 的严重程度使用改良 Hoehn 和 Yahr 量表进行评估。血液样本用于检测 APOE 基因的表达。
在 72 例病例中，有 44 例男性和 28 例女性，平均年龄为 64.4 ± 9.1 岁。共有 41 例 72 例病例患有痴呆症，其听力阈值较无痴呆症者差（47.1 ± 24.4 比 31.7 ± 22.1 dB， = 0.006）。共有 58 例患者被诊断为 PD，其中 14 例为严重症状（改良 Hoehn 和 Yahr 量表>2）。患有严重 PD 的患者发现听力阈值更差（49.6 ± 28.3 比 30.3 ± 17.8 dB， = 0.028），且痴呆症的患病率更高（12/14 比 18/44， = 0.006）。在 10 名携带 APOE ε4 基因的个体中，痴呆症的患病率高于不携带 ε4 等位基因的个体（9/10 比 32/62， = 0.036）。
严重 PD 和痴呆症患者听力损失较为常见。严重 PD 对听力阈值和认知功能障碍有负面影响。携带 APOE ε4 的患者痴呆症的患病率更高。
