Central Auditory Tests to Track Cognitive Function in People With HIV: Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Audiology

Background:

• Neurocognitive deficits are a major concern for individuals with HIV.
• Previous studies suggest a link between auditory processing and cognitive function in HIV, but lack longitudinal data.
• This study investigates the utility of central auditory tests (CATs) for tracking central nervous system dysfunction in HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if CATs can longitudinally track cognitive function changes in people diagnosed with HIV.
• To assess the central auditory system as a potential indicator of central nervous system health in HIV-positive individuals.

Main Methods:

• 382 HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals underwent auditory and cognitive assessments every 6 months for 3.5 years.
• Central auditory tests included gap detection, Hearing in Noise Test, and Triple Digit Test.
• Cognitive assessments utilized Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), and Cogstate battery.

Main Results:

• Individuals with the worst CAT performance (bottom 20%) showed significantly different cognitive trajectories for MoCA, TOVA, and Cogstate compared to the overall HIV-positive group.
• A battery of three CATs demonstrated a significant difference in cognitive trajectory over 3.5 years, independent of age.
• These findings highlight the sensitivity of CATs in detecting cognitive changes over a relatively short period.

Conclusions:

• Central auditory tests (CATs) are effective in monitoring cognitive function over time in people with HIV.
• CATs offer a simple, time-efficient, and low-cost method for screening and monitoring cognitive decline.
• These auditory tests serve as a valuable surveillance tool for addressing the public health challenge of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.