Validity of Digital Assessments in Screening for HIV-Related Cognitive Impairment: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: While traditional neuropsychological tests are the gold standard in screening for HIV-related cognitive impairment, computerized neuropsychological assessment devices (CNADs) offer an alternative to these time- and resource-intensive batteries and may prove to be particularly useful for remote assessments or longitudinal monitoring. This review seeks to describe the benefits, limitations, and validity of CNADs in the evaluation of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). RECENT FINDINGS: We identified eight CNADs that have undergone validity testing for cognitive impairment in the setting of HIV. Included among these are batteries that have been modeled after the traditional neuropsychological exam, as well as others that implement new technologies, such as simulated reality and daily ecological assessments in their testing. SUMMARY: Currently, these digital batteries do not yet have the ability to supplant gold standard neuropsychological tests in screening for HAND. However, many have the potential to become effective clinical screening tools.