PRKRA gene variants linked to tinnitus and mild cognitive impairment

This randomized controlled trial included 294 adults with chronic tinnitus recruited from five European clinics. The study aimed to investigate the association between rare loss-of-function and structural variants in the PRKRA gene and the presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in this population. No comparator group was reported, and the primary outcome was not specified.

The main finding was an enrichment of rare loss-of-function variants in PRKRA among patients with MCI: 15% of MCI patients carried such variants. Additionally, cognitive performance was linked to tinnitus in patients with MCI gene variants, particularly PRKRA, but not to hyperacusis or high frequency hearing loss. Effect sizes, absolute numbers, and p-values were not reported.

Safety data, including adverse events and tolerability, were not reported. Limitations were also not reported, but the study's certainty is low due to the small sample size and lack of replication. The authors note that this is an association only, and no causation is established.

Clinicians should interpret these findings with caution. The results suggest a potential genetic link between PRKRA variants and tinnitus-associated cognitive impairment, but the evidence is preliminary and not ready for clinical application. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations.