Researchers delivered a VGLUT3 gene therapy to inner hair cells and restored auditory function in aging mice, demonstrating a potential route to treat age‑related hearing loss by repairing synaptic glutamate transport. The study showed recovery of cochlear signaling after targeted VGLUT3 expression, with improvements in auditory thresholds and synaptic integrity. VGLUT3 is the vesicular glutamate transporter critical for neurotransmitter loading in inner‑hair‑cell synapses; restoring its function reestablished afferent signaling. The work suggests a translational path for sensorineural hearing loss where synaptic deficits, rather than hair‑cell death, predominate. Further work is needed to validate vector safety, durability, and delivery approaches before clinical translation.