Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy
Tinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound that affects between 10 and 15% of the general population. Despite this considerable prevalence, treatments for tinnitus are presently lacking. Tinnitus exhibits a diverse array of recognized risk factors and extreme clinical heterogeneity. Furthermore,...
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doaj-e7b125200cad4c43aa9fd6cc2605c9d92020-11-24T22:28:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2017-05-011110.3389/fnins.2017.00236246524Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its InfancyBarbara Vona0Indrajit Nanda1Wafaa Shehata-Dieler2Thomas Haaf3Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyPlastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Comprehensive Hearing Center, University Hospital WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyTinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound that affects between 10 and 15% of the general population. Despite this considerable prevalence, treatments for tinnitus are presently lacking. Tinnitus exhibits a diverse array of recognized risk factors and extreme clinical heterogeneity. Furthermore, it can involve an unknown number of auditory and non-auditory networks and molecular pathways. This complex combination has hampered advancements in the field. The identification of specific genetic factors has been at the forefront of several research investigations in the past decade. Nine studies have examined genes in a case-control association approach. Recently, a genome-wide association study has highlighted several potentially significant pathways that are implicated in tinnitus. Two twin studies have calculated a moderate heritability for tinnitus and disclosed a greater concordance rate in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins. Despite the more recent data alluding to genetic factors in tinnitus, a strong association with any specific genetic locus is lacking and a genetic study with sufficient statistical power has yet to be designed. Future research endeavors must overcome the many inherent limitations in previous study designs. This review summarizes the previously embarked upon tinnitus genetic investigations and summarizes the hurdles that have been encountered. The identification of candidate genes responsible for tinnitus may afford gene based diagnostic approaches, effective therapy development, and personalized therapeutic intervention.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2017.00236/fullcomplex disordersgeneticsgenetic heterogeneitygenome-wide association study (GWAS)hearing losstinnitus |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Barbara Vona Indrajit Nanda Wafaa Shehata-Dieler Thomas Haaf |
spellingShingle |
Barbara Vona Indrajit Nanda Wafaa Shehata-Dieler Thomas Haaf Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy Frontiers in Neuroscience complex disorders genetics genetic heterogeneity genome-wide association study (GWAS) hearing loss tinnitus |
author_facet |
Barbara Vona Indrajit Nanda Wafaa Shehata-Dieler Thomas Haaf |
author_sort |
Barbara Vona |
title |
Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy |
title_short |
Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy |
title_full |
Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy |
title_fullStr |
Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Genetics of Tinnitus: Still in its Infancy |
title_sort |
genetics of tinnitus: still in its infancy |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Neuroscience |
issn |
1662-453X |
publishDate |
2017-05-01 |
description |
Tinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound that affects between 10 and 15% of the general population. Despite this considerable prevalence, treatments for tinnitus are presently lacking. Tinnitus exhibits a diverse array of recognized risk factors and extreme clinical heterogeneity. Furthermore, it can involve an unknown number of auditory and non-auditory networks and molecular pathways. This complex combination has hampered advancements in the field. The identification of specific genetic factors has been at the forefront of several research investigations in the past decade. Nine studies have examined genes in a case-control association approach. Recently, a genome-wide association study has highlighted several potentially significant pathways that are implicated in tinnitus. Two twin studies have calculated a moderate heritability for tinnitus and disclosed a greater concordance rate in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins. Despite the more recent data alluding to genetic factors in tinnitus, a strong association with any specific genetic locus is lacking and a genetic study with sufficient statistical power has yet to be designed. Future research endeavors must overcome the many inherent limitations in previous study designs. This review summarizes the previously embarked upon tinnitus genetic investigations and summarizes the hurdles that have been encountered. The identification of candidate genes responsible for tinnitus may afford gene based diagnostic approaches, effective therapy development, and personalized therapeutic intervention. |
topic |
complex disorders genetics genetic heterogeneity genome-wide association study (GWAS) hearing loss tinnitus |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2017.00236/full |
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