Osteoprotegerin in neuroprotection
Methods for treating neurodegeneration, e.g., sensorineural hearing loss, or a demyelinating disease, using bisphosphonates, ERK kinase inhibitors, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) proteins or nucleic acids.
1. A method of treating sensorineural age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss, wherein the hearing loss is associated with degeneration of auditory neurons but not associated with otosclerosis in a subject, the method comprising;
selecting a subject who has sensorineural hearing loss associated with degeneration of auditory neurons that is age-related hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss, but does not have otosclerosis; and
administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a bisphosphonate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bisphosphonate is zoledronate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bisphosphonate is alendronate; zoledronate; etidronate; ibandronate; pamidronate; or tiludronate.