Anita Maria Stella Graceffa

Dr. Anita Maria Stella Graceffa

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 January 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GAGiuseppe Alberti
Giuseppe Alberti
DPDaniele Portelli
Daniele Portelli
FPFrancesca Polito
Francesca Polito
AGAnita Maria Stella Graceffa
Anita Maria Stella Graceffa
LLLaura Licitri
Laura Licitri
VMVincenzo Macaione
Vincenzo Macaione
Background: Mild cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized as a precursor to more severe neurodegenerative conditions, particularly in the context of aging. Recent studies have highlighted the intersection of hearing loss and cognitive decline, suggesting that auditory deficits may exacerbate cognitive impairments in older adults, proposing the use of hearing aids to mitigate cognitive decline, and indicating that early intervention in hearing loss could be crucial for preserving cognitive function. The underlying mechanisms of the relationship between hearing and cognitive impairment may involve neuroinflammatory processes and neurodegeneration. Recent studies have evidenced the role of tau proteins and neurofilaments as biomarkers in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: We selected 30 subjects with age-related hearing loss, and we evaluated their cognitive status through the administration of screening tests, which also measured neurofilament light chain and phospho-tau 181 serum levels as biomarkers of neurodegeneration. The subjects were re-evaluated six months after the hearing aid fitting. Results: Patients with hearing impairment presented slightly altered results on cognitive tests, typical of a mild cognitive impairment. At the same time, serum levels of neurofilament light chain and phospho-tau 181 were significantly increased compared to the matched control group. After the hearing aids fitting, auditory, cognitive, and serum values results improved. Conclusions: The results of the study highlight the cognitive involvement in patients with hearing impairment and identify neurofilament light chain and phospho-tau 181 as serum biomarkers of neurodegeneration useful in monitoring the pathology.