Can hearing tests help predict Alzheimer’s disease changes
Official title: Do auditory tests predict future Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11545147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Dartmouth investigates whether how we hear sounds now can signal future brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $230,364 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG087264-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11545147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV infection or related brain injury, and individuals across a range of cognitive function from normal to mild impairment.
✕Less likely to help
People without hearing loss or brain pathology may not see a direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will look at how well people with or without HIV and varying cognitive abilities process complex sounds and how that relates to brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s. The project uses hearing tests and brain scans to see if central auditory processing is connected to amyloid and tau pathology. If a link is found, it could point to hearing-related interventions that may influence the course of cognitive decline. This work builds on prior findings that hearing and brain function are related in people with brain-damaging conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to earlier identification of those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and inform hearing-based strategies to slow progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows a connection between central auditory processing and cognitive function, supporting potential relevance to AD pathology.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buckey, Jay C — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Buckey, Jay C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.