New gene has been identified which increases the risk of going deaf, scientists reveal

Mason Boycott-Owen
·2 min read
In the UK alone over 10 million people are either deaf or hard of hearing    - BSIP 
In the UK alone over 10 million people are either deaf or hard of hearing - BSIP

A new gene has been identified which increases the risk of going deaf, scientists have revealed.

The researchers found that thousands more people are at risk of losing their hearing than previously thought due to the new genetic variation.

They said that those with the gene would be an “attractive target for the development of a genetic therapy” which could save people’s hearing with early intervention after identifying those at risk.

The gene is thought to be present in almost 45,000 people in Northern Europe, with 13,000 people at risk of hearing loss in the Netherlands alone.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at the "chromosomal region" for hearing loss in the DNA with one family alongside 200 different people in 11 families.

The researchers found that almost all family members who were found to have hearing loss had a missing section of the gene called the RIPOR2 variant.

"Deafness is one of the most prevalent disabilities worldwide and has a major impact on quality of life,” said Professor Hannie Kremer at the Radboud University in the Netherlands.

“We believe that in The Netherlands alone the RIPOR2 genetic variant is likely present in more than 13,000 individuals who are therefore at risk of developing hearing loss or who have developed hearing loss already due to this variant.

"A further 30,000 people in northern Europe are likely to have this genetic variant and therefore be at risk of deafness."

In the UK alone over 10 million people are either deaf or hard of hearing.

Scientists have already found 118 genes associated with deafness, but the researchers said that this specific discovery would be ideal for gene therapy - an experimental technique that inserts normal genes into cells to treat its negative effects.

"Because of the large number of subjects estimated to be at risk for hearing loss due to the RIPOR2 variant, it is an attractive target for the development of a genetic therapy,” said Professor Kremer.