Tinnitus and brain MRI findings in Japanese elderly.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of an inverse association between cerebral infarction and tinnitus in this study. The effects of cerebral infarction on tinnitus could be explained by a neurophysiological model of tinnitus.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the relationship between tinnitus and brain MRI findings including cerebral infarction, brain atrophy, ventricular dilatation, and white matter lesions.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional population-based study of 2193 subjects aged 41-82 years living in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Detailed questionnaires, pure tone audiometry, and brain MRI were performed.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounders in a multiple logistic analysis, cerebral infarction was inversely associated with tinnitus (odds ratio (OR)=0.649, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.477-0.884). Cerebral infarctions of the basal ganglia (OR=0.542), thalamus (OR=0.441), and pons (OR=0.319) were especially associated with tinnitus. Brain atrophy, ventricular dilatation, and white matter lesions had no significant effects on the prevalence of tinnitus.