OBJECTIVES: To explore the combined effects of aging and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on cognitive decay. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, single-cohort study. SETTING: Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-three asymptomatic HIV-positive (HIV+) outpatients (20% aged ≥ 60) and an age- and education-matched control population of 39 HIV-negative individuals. MEASUREMENTS: A neuropsychological investigation was conducted to compare four groups of participants classified on the basis of HIV serostatus and age (<60 vs ≥ 60). The effects of age and HIV infection on neuropsychological performance were analyzed using a two-by-two factorial analysis of variance. Demographic and clinical variables associated with neuropsychological performance were identified using linear regression analysis in the HIV+ population. RESULTS: HIV infection and aging had significant negative effects on cognitive performance, but no significant interaction was observed between these two factors. Although older HIV+ participants had worse cognitive performance, they showed no distinct cognitive pattern from younger HIV+ participants. Moreover, younger HIV+ participants' performance on memory tasks was qualitatively and quantitatively comparable with that of older HIV- participants, despite the dramatic age difference. CONCLUSION: Aging and HIV might be additive factors in the expression of cognitive decline. As the HIV+ population ages, routine neuropsychological examinations could help clinicians better understand and manage the expression of cognitive impairment.
Effect of aging and human immunodeficiency virus infection on cognitive abilities / Ciccarelli, Nicoletta; Fabbiani, Massimiliano; Baldonero, Eleonora; Fanti, Iuri; Cauda, Roberto; Giambenedetto, Simona Di; Silveri, Maria Caterina. - In: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY. - ISSN 0002-8614. - 60:11(2012), pp. 2048-2055. [10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04213.x]
Effect of aging and human immunodeficiency virus infection on cognitive abilities
BALDONERO, ELEONORA;
2012
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore the combined effects of aging and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on cognitive decay. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, single-cohort study. SETTING: Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-three asymptomatic HIV-positive (HIV+) outpatients (20% aged ≥ 60) and an age- and education-matched control population of 39 HIV-negative individuals. MEASUREMENTS: A neuropsychological investigation was conducted to compare four groups of participants classified on the basis of HIV serostatus and age (<60 vs ≥ 60). The effects of age and HIV infection on neuropsychological performance were analyzed using a two-by-two factorial analysis of variance. Demographic and clinical variables associated with neuropsychological performance were identified using linear regression analysis in the HIV+ population. RESULTS: HIV infection and aging had significant negative effects on cognitive performance, but no significant interaction was observed between these two factors. Although older HIV+ participants had worse cognitive performance, they showed no distinct cognitive pattern from younger HIV+ participants. Moreover, younger HIV+ participants' performance on memory tasks was qualitatively and quantitatively comparable with that of older HIV- participants, despite the dramatic age difference. CONCLUSION: Aging and HIV might be additive factors in the expression of cognitive decline. As the HIV+ population ages, routine neuropsychological examinations could help clinicians better understand and manage the expression of cognitive impairment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.