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. 2024 Feb 8:18:1275560.
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1275560. eCollection 2024.

Tinnitus-associated cognitive and psychological impairments: a comprehensive review meta-analysis

Dong Yang #  1 , Dan Zhang #  2 , Xinmiao Zhang  2 , Xin Li  3   4
Affiliations

Tinnitus-associated cognitive and psychological impairments: a comprehensive review meta-analysis

Dong Yang et al. Front Neurosci. .

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is strongly associated with an increased risk of cognitive disabilities. The findings of this research will provide valuable support for future investigations aimed at determining the correlation between tinnitus and the risk of cognitive impairments.

Objectives: We investigated the potential correlation between tinnitus and the risk of various cognitive impairments, such as dementia, compromised learning attention, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The study examined this relationship collectively and by categorizing the data based on different age groups.

Methods: We compiled data from case-control studies and cohort studies obtained from reputable databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. To minimize potential bias, two reviewers independently assessed the selected articles. After extracting the data, we calculated the pooled odds ratios (ORs) using a random-effects model.

Results: Seventeen relevant studies, comprising an adult population, were included in this analysis. Pooled estimated outcomes revealed a strong association between tinnitus and an elevated risk of dementia-compromised learning, auditory attention, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality (P<0.05). Furthermore, the pooled analysis stratified by age demonstrated that patients aged above 60 years, in comparison to those aged 18 to 60 years, exhibited more significant outcomes in relation to the progression of cognitive impairments.

Conclusion: Tinnitus has the potential to increase the risk of cognitive impairments. Moreover, geriatric patients aged above 60 shows a higher susceptibility to developing cognitive disabilities compared to their younger counterparts.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; anxiety; attention deficit disorder; cognitive and psychological impairments disorders; dementia; learning and auditory attention; poor sleep quality; tinnitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Systemic PRISMA flowchart for meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of cognitive disabilities.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of dementia.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation of tinnitus with the learning and auditory attention deficit.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of sleep disturbances.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of anxiety.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of depression.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of cognitive disorders in 18- to 60-year-old study population.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Correlation of tinnitus with the inducement of cognitive disorders in > 60-year-old study population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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