Hearing, Old-Age and Dementia

Hearing loss is the most prevalent sensory condition, with a large genetic component. In particular, Age-Related Hearing Loss is an ever-growing issue for a steadily ageing population; about 25% of those over 65 years of age suffer from it, and this doubles for every further 10 years of life. Over the last couple of decades, we have identified a number of genes that condition the development of deafness, but it is clear that the picture is far from complete. At the Ear Institute, we are working towards identifying genes involved in Age-Related Hearing Loss, and how their dysfunction is linked to the development of brain disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

Carlos Aguilar PhD MRSB AHEA
Originally from Mexico City, Carlos did a BSc in Biomedical Research and a MSc in Biochemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Later, he obtained an MPhil Neuroscience from Manchester University and finally a PhD in Genetics from The Open University. Currently, he works for UCL as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Ear Institute. His main research interest is the discovery of new deafness genes, particularly those involved in Age-Related Hearing Loss, and their functional link to brain disorders.