September 16, 2020
Keio University School of Medicine
In a study of patients with tinnitus, Dr. Takahisa Watanabe, a collaborative researcher (physician at the National Center for Child Health and Development), Dr. Sho Kanzaki, a senior lecturer, and Professor Ikuo Ogawa from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Professor Masaaki Muramatsu and Associate Professor Noriko Sato from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and Dr. Tatsuo Matsunaga, Director of NHO Tokyo Medical Center, discovered that the single nucleotide polymorphism rs131702 in the BCR gene, which is associated with conditions such as depression, is involved in severe tinnitus.
The results of this study suggest that "individuals who experience strong anxiety or depression due to tinnitus are at a higher risk of their condition worsening if left untreated, and we recommend seeking medical attention early."
We believe that the discovery of this SNP related to the severity of tinnitus is not only useful for pathophysiological analysis but also as a biomarker for severity. It could help in prognostic estimation of recovery and in selecting treatment methods.
These research findings were published in the academic scientific journal "Scientific Reports" on August 3, 2020 (UK time).
Please see below for the full press release.