Abstract

Background: The central nervous system is no exception to the effects of aging. Physiologic changes due to aging have been suggested to impair the neurotransmission in the auditory pathways. Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) allows for the evaluation of such age-related transmission delays within the auditory system. Aims and Objectives: The present study, hence, intended to study healthy older subjects to attain a BAEP data normalized for age and gender for this less routinely studied age group.
Materials and Methods: BAEP was recorded in 80 healthy normoacusic subjects (40 males and 40 females) in the age group of 41-80 years. BAEP latencies were compared in different age groups by one- way ANOVA. Correlations of latencies with age were performed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Gender differences in the older subjects were studied by unpaired t-test. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: Age- related increase with statistical significance was observed for the absolute latencies of Wave III and V and interpeak latencies (IPLs) I-III and I-V. Males exhibited increased absolute and interpeak BAEP latencies as compared to females, with statistical significance for Wave V and I-V IPL. Conclusion: The study supports the impairment of central conduction time in the healthy older subjects due to aging with the possibility of the involvement of both superior olivary complex and the inferior colliculus in the auditory pathways. Older subjects also demonstrate gender variations in BAEP latencies in the form of increased latencies in males. The available data can increase the accuracy of electrophysiological evaluation in the older subjects.