Scientists have uncovered new evidence that serotonin, a brain chemical best known for helping regulate mood, may also worsen tinnitus, the persistent ringing or buzzing sound that affects millions of people worldwide. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Tinnitus can range from mildly irritating to severely distressing. For some people, the nonstop noise creates anxiety and disrupts daily life. Researchers estimate that as many as 14% of people globally experience the condition, with many cases considered severe.
A team from Oregon Health & Science University and Anhui University in China studied mice and found that increasing serotonin levels in the brain also increased behaviors associated with tinnitus.
Serotonin and Tinnitus Connection
The findings could have important implications for people living with tinnitus, especially those taking antidepressants that affect serotonin levels, said co-senior author Laurence Trussell, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology in the OHSU School of Medicine and a scientist at the OHSU Vollum Institute and Oregon Hearing Research Center.
