Hearing and how the brain processes sound in people with HIV
Advancing and applying peripheral and central auditory findings in HIV/AIDS.
This project looks at whether changes on hearing tests that measure brain processing of sound can help predict or track thinking problems in people living with HIV.
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 ID | NIH-11127650 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a long-term group of adults in Tanzania, some living with HIV and some without, who have had regular hearing checks for over a decade and more detailed brain-auditory and thinking tests for the past five years. Researchers use both peripheral hearing tests (like audiograms) and central auditory tests that measure how the brain interprets sounds, alongside standard cognitive tests. They follow people over time to see if changes in central auditory test results come before or mirror declines in memory, attention, or thinking skills. The team will also look at how aging and long-term antiretroviral therapy affect hearing and brain-auditory function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV—especially those on long-term antiretroviral treatment—and comparable HIV-negative adults who can complete hearing and cognitive testing are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people unable to complete hearing or cognitive tests, or those who cannot attend the Tanzania study sites are unlikely to directly participate or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer simple hearing-based tests to help detect or monitor cognitive decline earlier in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work, including results from this Tanzanian cohort, has shown that central auditory test results correlate with current cognitive performance, but using these tests to predict future decline is still largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buckey, Jay C — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Buckey, Jay C
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 below.