Inner ear disorders 'linked to hyperactivity '
Baluchistan Express, The
Inner-ear problems could be a cause of hyperactive behaviour, suggests a research.
The study on mice said such problems caused changes in the brain that led to hyperactivity. It could lead to the development of new targets for behaviour disorder treatments,
But scientists have observed that children and teenagers with inner-ear disorders - especially those that affect hearing and balance - often have behavioural problems.
The researchers in this study suggest inner-ear disorders lead to problems in the brain which then also affect behaviour.
The team from the
They were found to be profoundly deaf and have disorders of the inner ear - of both the cochlea, which is responsible for hearing, and the vestibular system, which is responsible for balance.
The researchers found a mutation in the Slc12a2 gene, also found in humans.
Blocking the gene's activity in the inner ears of healthy mice caused them to become increasingly active.
The researchers then examined the striatum, an area in the centre of the brain area that controls movement. They found higher-than-normal levels of two proteins, pERK and pCREB.
Mice with the gene flaw were given injections of haloperidol, a medicine already used to treat tics - uncontrollable movement - in humans.
It was seen to counteract the high protein levels, and mouse activity patterns returned to normal.
The researchers suggest the same process could be targeted in people, and that medications could be developed to help manage hyperactivity in children with inner-ear disorders.