A recent breakthrough by a research team from Mass Eye and Ear, part of Mass General Brigham, demonstrated successful application of adeno-associated virus vectors in aged mice models with a mutation similar to the TMPRSS3 human gene, which causes progressive hearing loss. Their study points to the potential of virally mediated gene therapies for treating genetic hearing loss in the aged population.
By 2050, one in 10 individuals is expected to live with some form of hearing loss. Of the hundreds of millions of cases of hearing loss affecting individuals worldwide, genetic hearing loss is often the most difficult to treat. While hearing aids and cochlear implants offer limited relief, no available treatment can reverse or prevent this group of genetic conditions, prompting scientists to evaluate gene therapies for alternative solutions.