Purpose A reduction in hearing sensitivity is often considered to be a normal age-related change. Recent studies have revisited prior ways of thinking about sensory changes over time, uncovering health variables other than age that play a significant role in sensory changes. Method In this cross-sectional study, cardiovascular (CV) health, pure-tone thresholds at 1000 to 4000 Hz, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), with and without contralateral noise, were measured in 101 participants age 10–78 years. Results Persons in the “old” age category (49–78 years) had worse pure-tone hearing sensitivity and DPOAEs than persons in the younger age categories ( p < .05), affirming an age effect. Although hearing decline occurred in all persons in all CV fitness categories of every age group, those with low CV fitness in the old age group had significantly worse pure-tone hearing at 2000 and 4000 Hz ( p <.05). Otoacoustic emission measurements were better for the old high-fit group but not significantly influenced by CV fitness level across age groups. Conclusions Results of the current study elucidate the potentially positive impact of CV health on hearing sensitivity over time. This finding was particularly robust among older adults.
2293 Evidence suggests a link between physical exercise and many neurological parameters including hippocampal neurochemistry, neuronal activity, expression of neurotrophic growth factor, and spatial learning. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if access to different frequency and intensity of physical activity and exercise affects spatial maze learning, which is an indication of cognition and adaptation. METHODS: Thirty six Female Sprague Dawley rats were separated into three groups (n=12): 1) having no access to physical activity, 2) having access to twice-weekly physical activity in a large box, and 3) having regular access to a running wheel. At age 3 months, performance on a spatial maze was evaluated based upon total time to collect 5 reinforcements (correct responses) and number of working errors (returning to the same place on the maze for reinforcements) and reference errors (going to a place on the maze that never has reinforcements). RESULTS: Mean time to complete the maze was significantly lower (better) in the Running Wheel group (p<0.05). Mean reference errors were significantly lower (better) in the Running Wheel group. There were no differences among the three groups in working errors. Mean correct responses were highest in the Running Wheel group compared with the Sedentary control group (3.7 vs. 2.9). CONCLUSION: Access to and using a running wheel on a regular basis appears to advantage animals in performing a spatial maze test, as indicated by less time needed to complete the task, lower number of reference errors and a higher number of correct responses. Animals that did not have access to physical activity-either in a cage equipped with a running wheel or twice weekly hourly sessions in an activity box, performed worse in almost every variable measured in the Spatial Maze test. Supported by NIH Grant 1 R15 AG 20526-01A1Table
This study examined the association between pure tone hearing sensitivity and music listening behaviors among traditional college-aged students and sought to determine factors that mediate hearing sensitivity, including health and fitness levels, gender, and personal listening device (PLD) use.A convenience sample of college students (N = 182; 133 females, 49 males, mean age = 19.8 ± 1.4 year, average PLD use = 1.52 ± 7.1 hours•day-1) completed hearing assessments, music listening behavior questionnaires, and health and fitness tests.Most students listened to music at safe intensity levels (<80 dBA), though 18% had higher hearing levels (≥25 dB HL at one of the measured frequencies). Longer listening duration behavior approached but did not reach a statistical association with compromised hearing sensitivity. Of all variables measured, including cardiovascular health, fitness, and music listening, two variables: total cholesterol: triglycerides (TC:TG) and total cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (TC:HDL) significantly associated with hearing sensitivity at 2 kHz. The odds hearing loss occurring at 4 kHz was 59% lower in females compared with males.The majority of college students had healthy music listening behavior and fitness, contributing to normal hearing sensitivity in most. In cases where greater hearing threshold levels at one or more frequencies was detected, TC:HDL and TC:TG were statistically related and at 2 kHz, males were more likely to demonstrate higher listening levels compared with females of similar health and fitness level.
PURPOSE: To assess indicators of speech quality and document the heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic requirement (VO2) of speaking while sitting, standing and walking. METHODS: Thirty adults aged 37+/- 14 years participated in all conditions. Heart rate and VO2 were obtained continuously with a Parvomedics metabolic system and expressed as ml/kg/min while subjects read silently, and aloud, or engaged in spontaneous conversation in a sitting, standing or walking (1 mph) condition. Blood pressure and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were obtained during the last minute of the respective tasks. Expert listeners, blinded to the purpose of the study and the protocol assessed randomized samples of the participants reading and spontaneous speech tasks during the 3 conditions. RESULTS: Standing elevated metabolic rate 10-15% over the sitting position (3.3 +/-.7 vs. 3.6 +/-.9 ml/kg/min). Walking 1 mph while performing the respective tasks resulted in physical activity level of 2.0-2.3 MET. The ranges for heart rates for the tasks performed under sitting-standing-walking conditions were 78-83, 87-91, and 90-96 bpm respectively. RPE across conditions varied from.4 to 1.6. There was no significant difference in the average number of syllables included in each breath group across the conditions (p =.945). The number of ungrammatical pauses that occurred when the participants were reading aloud was minimal (0 -1 ungrammatical pause per reading) and the occurrence of these ungrammatical pauses did not differ across the conditions. No dysfluencies (e.g., unusual speech patterns, stuttering) were detected. CONCLUSION: The significant elevation in metabolic rate in the absence of any deterioration in speech quality or RPE support the utility of using active work stations to significantly increase PA in the work environment and thereby enhancing health. Supported by the Miami University Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program.
This study was designed to determine whether endurance training would influence the production of lipid peroxidation (LI-POX) by-products as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) at rest and after an acute exercise run. Additionally, the scavenger enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were examined to determine whether changes in LIPOX are associated with alterations in enzyme activity both at rest and after exercise. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were randomly assigned to either trained or sedentary groups and were killed either at rest or after 20 min of treadmill running. The training program increased oxidative capacity 64% in leg muscle. After exercise, the sedentary group demonstrated increased LIPOX levels in liver and white skeletal muscle, whereas the endurance-trained group did not show increases in LIPOX after exercise. CAT activity was higher in both red and white muscle after exercise in the trained animals. Total SOD activity was unaffected by either acute or chronic exercise. These data suggest that endurance training can result in a reduction in LIPOX levels as indicated by MDA during moderate-intensity exercise. It is possible that activation of the enzyme catalase and the increase in respiratory capacity were contributory factors responsible for regulating LIPOX after training during exercise.
