J Audiol Otol.
2025 Jan;29(1):38-48. 10.7874/jao.2024.00318.
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of the Cognitive Functions of Elderly Patients With Hearing Loss
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
- 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 3Division of Research Support, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- 4Sensory Organ Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea
- 5Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2564436
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.7874/jao.2024.00318
Abstract
- Background and Objectives
Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the potential mechanisms linking these conditions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the cognitive function profiles of elderly patients with hearing loss via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to determine the cortical activity differences between patients at risk of MCI and those with normal cognition.
Materials and Methods
Sixty-three elderly patients with bilateral, moderate, or severe hearing loss were prospectively recruited for this study. Their demographic information was obtained, and audiological evaluations and cognitive function tests were performed. Various instruments were used to assess the cognitive and depression domains. Additionally, fNIRS was used to image the brains of the normal group and group at risk of MCI.
Results
fNIRS analysis of individual cognitive task data revealed that the normal group exhibited significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in all cognitive function tasks, except the Stroop color and word test, than the group at risk of MCI. Detailed comparisons of the Brodmann areas revealed that, compared to the group at risk of MCI, normal group exhibited significantly higher HbO2 levels in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, frontopolar cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex in the J1 task, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the J2 task, and right orbitofrontal cortex in the J6 task.
Conclusions
Measurement of fNIRS signals in the frontal lobes revealed different HbO2 signals between the normal group and group at risk of MCI during minimal hearing loss. Future studies should explore the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment by analyzing the changes in cognitive function after auditory rehabilitation.
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