Tinnitus, Aging, and Macular Degeneration

Tinnitus, explained 

Tinnitus (pronounced "ti-NITE-us" or "TINN-ah-tus") is the perception of any ringing, hissing, humming, or buzzing sound without any external source. Rarely, it's a pulsing rhythm aligned with the heartbeat. The impact of these phantom sounds can range from a minor inconvenience to a major debilitation, associated with an inability to sleep, work, or go about daily life. While there's no known cure for tinnitus, it sometimes resolves on its own. 

The condition, named after the Latin verb "tinnire," meaning "to ring," occurs in 10% to 15% of the population and is often associated with hearing loss. Earwax buildup and jaw joint disorders can also contribute. The ancient Egyptians documented a similar condition as "bewitched ear," and famous tinnitus sufferers include Charles Darwin, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the musician Eric Clapton. 

Research suggests hearing loss-associated tinnitus may be the brain's signal to the inner ear to turn up the volume amid reduced noise, paving the way for future therapies targeting nerve signaling. Current management strategies train the brain to distract itself, often with sound generators or hearing aids that amplify environmental noise.

Explore everything else we've found on Tinnitus.

Also, check out ... 

> Charles Darwin describes his tinnitus suffering. (Read) 

> People with tinnitus should avoid silence. (Watch) 

> A new therapy involves mild electric tongue shocks and sound exposures. (Read) 

> See how your body's efforts to process silence can contribute to tinnitus. (Watch)

In partnership with Pendulum

Want to Boost Your GLP-1 Naturally?

Picture this—PhD scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford get together to master the science of probiotics. They are the first minds to uncover one of the most beneficial strains for gut health, develop the technology to manufacture and deliver the strain in a bioavailable way (so it arrives in your colon, alive), and make such an impact, movie star Halle Berry wants to get involved.

Sound crazy? It is, but that’s the true story of Pendulum. They’ve improved countless lives with their Akkermansia probiotic, which strengthens your gut lining, improves metabolic and digestive health, and increases GLP-1 production.* With hundreds of 5-star reviews, 4,500+ mentions of Akkermansia muciniphila in scientific publications, and 16K+ medical professional recommendations, they’re most certainly living up to the hype.

Boost your GLP-1 now. And if you buy right now, you’ll get up to 62% off your first Pendulum Akkermansia subscription order! (Bonus: You can use HSA/FSA funds!)

*Based on preclinical studies

This product is not intended for weight loss

Please support our sponsors!

Aging 101

Aging is the progressive decline of the human body’s function. It results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors. As our cells accumulate damage, important systemic processes within the body become dysregulated, leading to an increased rate of disease and mortality.

As we age, our cells accumulate damage on many fronts, including mutations in DNA (our cells' information code), shortening of telomeres (protective end caps on DNA strands), and epigenetic alterations (changes in how our cells read DNA information). This causes our microscopic machinery to go awry.

While the most familiar convention of measuring age is "chronological" (that is, measuring age in years), there is an emerging interest in determining "biological age"—how quickly our individual cells show signs of deterioration.

Explore everything else we've found on Aging.

Also, check out ... 

> How aging degrades neural functioning in the brain over time. (Watch) 

> See how different body parts age. (Watch) 

> Environment and genetics explain why animals have different life spans. (Watch)

> One minute of exercise correlates to five extra minutes of life (on average). (Listen) 

Macular degeneration, explained 

Macular degeneration is a common eye disease that affects central vision. It usually doesn't affect peripheral vision, but advanced forms of the disease can lead to legal blindness.

There are two forms of the condition. "Dry" macular degeneration occurs when a part of the retina called the macula becomes thinner and stops working well. Tiny deposits of protein and lipids, called drusen, accumulate beneath the macula. "Wet" macular degeneration, which affects 10%-15% of those with macular degeneration, occurs when abnormal blood vessels form and leak blood into the eye, affecting central vision. 

Age is the greatest risk factor, and there are almost 20 million people living with age-related macular degeneration in America. It's the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among older Americans. Smoking, family history of the disease, and European ancestry are risk factors for developing the disease (it's more common in white people, particularly those with lighter-colored eyes). 

There's no cure, but treatments, including vitamin regimens, are available to slow its progression. In 2025, an eye prosthesis clinical trial enabled advanced macular degeneration patients to regain some sight for the first time. Eye prostheses and gene therapy to regenerate retinal cells (still currently in animal studies) are areas of active research for this disease.

Explore everything else we've found on Macular Degeneration.

Also, check out ... 

> See patients describing life with macular degeneration. (Watch)

> Targeting cholesterol metabolism may help address macular degeneration. (Read)

> Researchers regenerated retinal cells in mice, a breakthrough. (Watch)

> New eye implant clinical trial recruiting in 2026. (Read)

 Medical Developments Spotlight 

We love spending time learning about the latest medical breakthroughs and spotlighting research that piques our interest, may influence future research directions, or inform healthcare conversations. Here's what we found this week.

> Lab-grown beef sparks different allergy responses than conventional beef

Bioengineer.org | Staff. New research indicates a mixed immune system response to cultured beef, as the lab-grown meat exhibits distinct protein expression patterns. There are generally lower allergy-related risks with lab-grown beef than classic beef, but there are higher alpha-gal-associated allergy risks for those with that tick-bite-induced allergy (alpha-gal is a sugar in red meat). (Read) 

> Pesticides have been detected in 100% of tested military meals, prompting an overhaul

The Hill | Sophie Brams. Analysis sponsored by nonprofits and a private academic group examined samples of Meals Ready to Eat, rations, and other cafeteria items. It detected high levels of heavy metals, banned veterinary drugs, and the herbicide glyphosate. The Trump administration is reportedly launching a pilot program to improve meal quality. (Read) 

In partnership with Pendulum

16K+ Medical Professionals Pick This Probiotic

The health nerds have spoken! Pendulum’s Akkermansia probiotic has hundreds and hundreds of 5-star reviews (and 16K+ medical professional recommendations) for a reason. It’s a critical probiotic, powered by Akkermansia, that supercharges your gut health, improves the gut lining, boosts metabolic and digestive function, and increases GLP-1 production.* Almond Moms, take note.

The best thing you can do for your gut? Join the Pendulum Movement. To boost your digestive health, add Akkermansia to your routine and save up to 62% on your first order.

*Based on preclinical studies

This product is not intended for weight loss

Please support our sponsors!

Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources into 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of health and medicine.

> Health problems are being misdiagnosed as perimenopause symptoms.

> Prior insurance authorization, explained.

> Some snakes lack the "hunger hormone" and experts are seeking possible human applications.

> Dark showering is a thing.

> Colorectal cancer is the top cancer killer of US adults under 50.

> Psychedelic DMT shows antidepressant promise in small clinical trial.

> Here's how to nap well.

> Neanderthal mothers' high rates of pregnancy complications may have contributed to extinction.

> One gene seems to determine if certain mice are doting fathers—or infanticidal ones.

> Food manufacturers are shifting product sizes in response to GLP-1 popularity.

Join 4.7+ million insatiably curious news readers:

1440 Daily Digest (Monday-Saturday)

The "1440 Explores" podcast: 

Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Weekly 1440 Topics newsletters: 

Science & Technology (Tuesday)

Business & Finance (Thursday)

Society & Culture (Saturday)