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Nicotine for Age-Related Hearing Changes Study

This study is looking at whether nicotine gum can help improve hearing abilities that may decline with age. We are testing if nicotine gum (6 mg) can reverse the effects of aging on how people process sounds. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 85 years old, are a non-smoker, and have normal thinking abilities. The study aims to see if nicotine can improve hearing thresholds (how soft a sound you can hear), modulation detection (how well you can hear changes in sound), and brain responses to sound. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 48 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 48 participants, divided into young and old age groups. It is a double-blind, crossover study, meaning neither you nor the researchers will know if you receive nicotine gum or a placebo gum, and all participants will receive both at different times.
What's involved
You will participate in two test sessions. In each session, you will be given either nicotine gum or a placebo gum before undergoing hearing and brain activity tests.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your hearing thresholds and modulation detection will be measured at 1 hour after gum administration, and envelope following responses will be measured at 2 hours.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04971954

Using Nicotine to Reverse Age-related Auditory Processing Deficits

Recruiting
NAAges 18–85InterventionalBasic science
University of California, Irvine
~48 participants
Updated 2026-08-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Nicotine gumPlacebo gum

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Hearing thresholds
Measured over 1 hour
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Auditory Perceptual Impairment
Aging

Explore related trials

AgingAuditory perceptual impairment

NCT04971954

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Hearing and Speech Lab

    Irvine, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, Irvine

Who to contact

Fan-Gang Zeng
[email protected]
9498249107
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

between 18 and 85 years of age
non-smokers with a score of 0-2 out of 10 maximum on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
cognitive performance within two standard deviations of the CERAD mean

Exclusion

less than 18 or greater than 85 years of age
deafness or excessive hearing loss
smokers with a score between 3 and 10 on the Fagerström index of smoking dependency
history of psychiatric illness, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, or cardiovascular disease
regular use of prescription medications (excluding oral contraceptives)
drug dependency

What this trial measures

  • Hearing thresholds1 hour

    Hearing thresholds in dB SPL will be measured as a function of sound frequency from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz in quiet or in noise.

  • Modulation detection1 hour

    Amplitude-modulated sounds will be presented at 70 dB SPL or a comfortable level. The detection threshold in percent modulation depth (m= 0 to 100) will be recorded and converted into signal-to-noise ratios in dB (=20log(m)).

  • Envelope following responses2 hours

    Electrophysiological responses will be recorded in response to amplitude or frequency-modulated sounds. The sounds will be presented at 70 dB SPL or a comfortable level. The EEG signal strength that is in synchrony with the modulation frequency in micro-Volts will be recorded.