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Genetic research brings hope to people with age-related hearing loss
A treatment for age-related hearing loss, which affects over 163,000 people in Merseyside, could be on the market in as little as 15 years. During Deaf Awareness Week (2-8 May 2005), RNID, the largest charity for deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK, talks about the research it is funding into age-related hearing loss.
Even though age related hearing loss affects 55% of those over the age of 60, there is currently no way to predict who might be at risk and there are no medical treatments to prevent age-related hearing loss. Most of us do not see ourselves as having a disability but for half of us lucky enough to reach our 60s, hearing loss is likely to affect our everyday lives.
Age-related hearing loss appears to run in families but scientists are unsure how much of this can be put down to lifestyle and to what degree hearing loss in later life can be inherited.
World-class geneticist, Dr Lorraine Everett, carrying out RNID-funded research into genetic causes of age-related hearing loss, says:- “Our group is analysing DNA from 1,000 people with age-related hearing loss and comparing this to samples of DNA from another 1,000 people with good hearing. We are then studying difference between the 2 groups to find what genes could be causing hearing loss.”
RNID hopes that Dr Everett’s work will lead to tests, which will allow doctors to warn those at risk of hearing loss to take extra precautions to protect their hearing. Perhaps more importantly, the work could open the door to future work aimed at preventing this type of hearing loss.
Dr Everett believes that in around 15 years’ time, there may even be a drug to treat age-related hearing loss:-
“Faulty genes could cause a protein in the ear to function differently. If we find a genetic change that causes a less efficient ear protein, it might be possible to develop a drug that counteracts this and makes the protein work harder.”
RNID is also encouraging and helping the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to become involved in hearing research. Dr Ralph Holme, Biomedical Research Manager at RNID,
says:- “It may even be possible to restore hearing using stem cell technology. But to make this happen we need the drug and biotech industry to take promising scientific findings and turn them into real treatments. By demonstrating the enormous commercial reward that awaits companies that can successfully do this, we hope to get them on board at an early stage and bring these life changing treatments to deaf and hard of hearing people as fast as possible.
RNID invests around £750,000 annually on hearing research and amazing progress is being made. In the future, we can expect this and other research to lead to ways of halting age-related hearing loss, reducing the damaging effects of loud noise and alleviating
tinnitus."
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Pupils invited to use their business brain
LAUNCHED this week, a new
online business game will help 14 to 15 year olds throughout England and Wales to develop key business skills for the future world of work. Business Brains has been developed by b-live, in partnership with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).
The interactive e-learning game invites pupils to meet within a secure web-site, to form a simulated computer software company and then to design and launch a computer game to the marketplace. The winning team will have to achieve the highest sales figures and demonstrate sound business knowledge and innovation through its decision making processes.
Each team will have 5 members and they must decide who to appoint as Managing Director, Finance Director, Sales & Marketing Director, HR Director and Technical Director. The teams' work will be assessed throughout the 3 week challenge, including their ability to work as a team, communicates effectively, make key decisions and understand basic financial and business processes.
b-live's Chief Executive, Tanja Kuveljic said:- "b-live is dedicated to providing all young people with positive opportunities to support them with their careers and personal development. And we believe that this joint initiative with ACCA is an excellent contribution to support continued learning in secondary education."
Andrew Harding, Executive Director of ACCA Europe, added:- "This is an exciting initiative. We have joined forces with b-live to help pupilsdevelop skills vital for everyday business. ACCA is proud to continue to give opportunities to young people of ability and application."
The b-live web site also provides interactive careers planning tools, including a skills profiler, CV builder, employment opportunities, case studies, virtual work experience and
online advice and guidance.
Anyone who is not registered with the b-live website and interested in participating should email
enquiries@b-live.com
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