Tinnitus and Alzheimer's

MarLee92 · August 2022

My MIL with Alzheimer's has been complaining for about a month of buzzing/ringing in her ears. My husband tells her it is tinnitus and that she needs to turn on a TV or something to have sound to distract her. She has a doctor appt coming up and I will have it checked out there. But I really feel that this ringing is taking its toll on her emotionally - I think she believes nobody believes her or that she's crazy.

It has made me wonder if there is a connection between this ringing/buzzing and Alzheimer's? Does anyone know if it can be related to her Alzheimer's?

Lane Simonian · August 2022

I am sorry to read about what your mother-in-law is experiencing.

Tinnitus and Alzheimer's disease may share a common origin: the formation of an oxidant called peroxynitrite (ONOO-).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18229788/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9092586/#:~:text=Conversely%2C%20nitrotyrosine%20was%20undetectable%20in,oxidative%20damage%20of%20Alzheimer's%20disease.

Some essential oils contain compounds that lower peroxynitrite levels and may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease via aromatherapy.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1479-8301.2009.00299.x

https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1392290/v1/f79b84f0-ba44-49fd-ace1-57fbb9eac13d.pdf?c=1652156064

A few seconds of direct inhalation with stimulating essential oils such as rosemary and bay laurel may work even better (diffusers work well for relaxing essential oils such as lavender and sweet orange).

Essential oils may also help with tinnitus, but a trained aromatherapist is needed here, because proper dilution is needed to avoid burning/harming the ear.