# Long-term effects of Zika virus infection on sound processing in the brain

> **NIH NIH R21** · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · 2020 · $151,662

## Abstract

Project Summary
The Zika virus is known to be neurotropic. Animal studies show that the virus affects neural progenitor cells.
Recent studies in rhesus monkeys suggest the Zika virus may persist in the central nervous system. Clinically,
the effect of the Zika virus on the developing brain is well known, but the long-term consequences of Zika
infection in the adult brain are not. Infected adults may have minor, or no, signs and symptoms during acute
infection, but they may have long-term CNS consequences. One manifestation of central nervous system
damage can be problems with central auditory processing. Our preliminary data from Brazil show an
unexpectedly high rate of central auditory deficits in a small sample of young, Zika-infected mothers.
Processing auditory information is a neurologically demanding task involving neural pathways throughout the
brainstem and into the cortex. High-level linguistic and cognitive systems are also engaged. Our previous work
has shown that chronic HIV infection can lead to persistent central auditory processing deficits that correlate
with cognitive function. These deficits can also be seen with traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment,
and early Alzheimer’s disease. The present study will use tests of central auditory function (speech-in-noise,
triple-digit, gap detection, duration pattern, frequency-following response) to determine if these results can be
confirmed in a larger cohort of adults with a past history of a documented, symptomatic Zika infection. The
results from those with a history of Zika infection will be compared with results from age, gender, and
socioeconomic-status-matched cases without evidence of prior infection. We hypothesize that prior Zika
infection will be associated with worse performance on central auditory tests on average. If true, this would
describe a new and previously unknown central nervous system consequence of Zika infection and would
indicate that long-term central nervous system consequences of Zika infection may be more widespread than
previously thought. This could affect clinical practice since it would indicate that aggressive prevention efforts
may need to move beyond pregnant women. It could also lead to the use of central hearing tests to screen
individuals for long-term Zika effects. These tests can be short and easy to perform (speech-in-noise) or can
be done without any subjective subject input (frequency-following response). This study engages an
international team with expertise in Zika infection effects on hearing (Leal, Muniz, Universidade Federal de
Pernambuco), integrated hearing testing systems (Clavier, Creare LLC), and use of the frequency following
response to assess the central processing of sound (Kraus, Northwestern). The Dartmouth team (Buckey) is
experienced in assessing the central nervous system effects of viral infections from previous work evaluating
HIV effects on both peripheral and central hearing in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Sh...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985094
- **Project number:** 5R21DC017603-02
- **Recipient organization:** DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** JAY C BUCKEY
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $151,662
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985094

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985094, Long-term effects of Zika virus infection on sound processing in the brain (5R21DC017603-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985094. Licensed CC0.

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