In this business-research collaboration, the project team are investigating factors that influence the severity of the symptoms of Ménière’s Disease.
Ménière’s is a rare condition of the inner ear that can lead to chronic vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Affecting only 1 in 2000 people, there are large gaps in our understanding of how the disease is triggered and develops.
Working closely with Cornish digital company, Buzz Interactive, this project has developed a mobile phone application to enable individuals to record the severity and frequency of the main symptoms of the disease.
These symptoms can include tinnitus, dizziness, hearing loss and aural fullness, and this data will provide, for the first time, an insight into how these vary on a daily basis.
Using meteorological data from the UK Met Office, the project will also explore whether factors such as air pressure and humidity influence the symptoms of Ménière’s Disease.
This research will build on the current epidemiological research into Ménière’s at the Centre, which has used the UK Biobank data to carry out a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of the condition.
You can take part in the research if you’re over 18, have been diagnosed with Ménière’s disease by your doctor, and have experienced symptoms – such as vertigo or tinnitus – in the last year.
Participants will need a smart phone or tablet, be happy for location data to be captured, and willing to input brief information about their symptoms each day.