A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Social Cognition Among People Living with HIV: Implications for Non-Social Cognition and Social Everyday Functioning.

Social cognition-the complex mental ability to perceive social stimuli and negotiate the social environment-has emerged as an important cognitive ability needed for social functioning, everyday functioning, and quality of life. Deficits in social cognition have been well documented in those with severe mental illness including schizophrenia and depression, those along the autism spectrum, and those with other brain disorders where such deficits profoundly impact everyday life. Moreover, subtle deficits in social cognition have been observed in other clinical populations, especially those that may have compromised non-social cognition (i.e., fluid intelligence such as memory). Among people living with HIV (PLHIV), 44% experience cognitive impairment; likewise, social cognitive deficits in theory of mind, prosody, empathy, and emotional face recognition/perception are gradually being recognized. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize the current knowledge of social cognitive ability among PLHIV, identified by 14 studies focused on social cognition among PLHIV, and provides an objective consensus of the findings. In general, the literature suggests that PLHIV may be at-risk of developing subtle social cognitive deficits that may impact their everyday social functioning and quality of life. The causes of such social cognitive deficits remain unclear, but perhaps develop due to (1) HIV-related sequelae that are damaging the same neurological systems in which social cognition and non-social cognition are processed; (2) stress related to coping with HIV disease itself that overwhelms one's social cognitive resources; or (3) may have been present pre-morbidly, possibly contributing to an HIV infection. From this, a theoretical framework is proposed highlighting the relationships between social cognition, non-social cognition, and social everyday functioning.

Does Olfactory Training Improve Brain Function and Cognition? A Systematic Review.

Olfactory training (OT), or smell training,consists of repeated exposure to odorants over time with the intended neuroplastic effect of improving or remediating olfactory functioning. Declines in olfaction parallel declines in cognition in various pathological conditions and aging. Research suggests a dynamic neural connection exists between olfaction and cognition. Thus, if OT can improve olfaction, could OT also improve cognition and support brain function? To answer this question, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine whether there is evidence that OT translates to improved cognition or altered brain morphology and connectivity that supports cognition. Across three databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, & Embase), 18 articles were identified in this systematic review. Overall, the reviewed studies provided emerging evidence that OT is associated with improved global cognition, and in particular, verbal fluency and verbal learning/memory. OT is also associated with increases in the volume/size of olfactory-related brain regions, including the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, and altered functional connectivity. Interestingly, these positive effects were not limited to patients with smell loss (i.e., hyposmia & anosmia) but normosmic (i.e., normal ability to smell) participants benefitted as well. Implications for practice and research are provided.

A 2-Year Longitudinal Randomized Control Trial of Speed of Processing Cognitive Training in Aging Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Results of the Think Fast Study.

Nearly 40% of people with HIV (PWH) experience HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). In this 3-group efficacy study, 216 PWH 40 + years with HAND or borderline HAND were randomized to either: (1) 10 h of SOP training (n = 70); (2) 20 h of SOP training (n = 73), or (3) 10 h of Internet navigation training (n = 73; contact control group). Participants were administered a measure of SOP [i.e., the Useful Field of View Test (UFOV®)] at baseline, at posttest immediately after training, and at year 1 and year 2 follow up. Intent-to-treat linear mixed-effect models with subject-specific intercept and slope were fitted to estimate between-group mean differences at the follow-up time-points. At the post-intervention time-point, small beneficial SOP training effects were observed for the 10-h group in UFOV® total (d = 0.28, p = 0.002). Effects were of larger magnitude for the 20-h group in these same outcomes [UFOV® total (d = 0.43, p < 0.001)]. These results indicated better benefit with more training. No intervention effect was observed at year 1. At year 2, beneficial effects of small magnitude were observed again in the 10-h group [UFOV® total (d = 0.22, p = 0.253)] with larger small-to-moderate magnitude in the 20-h group [UFOV® total (d = 0.32, p = 0.104)]. This study suggests that SOP training can improve a key indicator of this cognitive performance and that treatment gains are small-to-moderate over a two-year period. Prior literature suggests slower SOP is predictive of impairment in everyday functioning in older PWH; such an approach could potentially improve everyday functioning in PWH.

Cerca del 40% de las personas viviendo con VIH (PVV) experimentan Trastorno Neurocognitivo Asociado al VIH (HAND, por sus siglas en inglés). En este estudio de eficacia de 3 grupos, se aleatorizó a 216 PVV mayores de 40 años de edad con HAND o HAND límite a: (1) 10 horas de entrenamiento en velocidad de procesamiento (SOP, por sus siglas en inglés) (n = 70); (2) 20 horas de entrenamiento SOP (n = 73), o (3) 10 horas de entrenamiento en navegación por Internet (n = 73; grupo control de contacto). Se administró una medida de SOP a los participantes [la Prueba de Campo de Visión Útil (UFOV®)] al inicio, inmediatamente después del entrenamiento, y en el seguimiento de año 1 y año 2. Los datos se analizaron bajo el principio de intención de tratar, utilizando modelos lineales de efectos mixtos para estimar las diferencias promedio entre grupos en los puntos de seguimiento. En el punto de tiempo de post- entrenamiento, se observaron pequeños efectos beneficiosos del entrenamiento SOP para el grupo de 10 horas en el puntaje total de UFOV® (d = 0.28, p = 0.002). Para esta misma medida, los efectos fueron de mayor magnitud en el grupo de 20 horas [UFOV® total (d = 0.43, p < 0.001)]. Estos resultados indicaron un mayor beneficio con más entrenamiento. No se observó ningún efecto de intervención en el año 1. En el año 2, se observaron efectos beneficiosos de pequeña magnitud nuevamente en el grupo de 10 horas [UFOV® total (d = 0.22, p = 0.253)] y en el grupo de 20 horas [UFOV® total (d = 0.32, p = 0.104)] con una magnitud pequeña a moderada). Este estudio confirma que el entrenamiento SOP puede mejorar un indicador clave de este rendimiento cognitivo y que las ganancias del tratamiento son pequeñas a moderadas durante un período de dos años. La literatura previa sugiere que una SOP más lenta es predictiva de deterioro en el funcionamiento diario en PVV mayores; tal enfoque podría mejorar potencialmente el funcionamiento diario en PVV.

Cognitive prescriptions for reducing dementia risk factors among Black/African Americans: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Black/African Americans (B/AAs) have double the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia than Whites, which is largely driven by health behaviors. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a pilot randomized clinical trial of an individualized multidomain health behavior intervention among middle-aged and older B/AAs (dubbed Cognitive Prescriptions [CogRx]). DESIGN: Thirty-nine community-dwelling B/AA participants aged 45-65 without significant cognitive impairment were randomized to one of three groups: CogRx, Psychoeducation, or no-contact control. The Psychoeducation and CogRx groups received material on dementia prevalence, prognosis, and risk factors, while the CogRx group additionally received information on their risk factor profile across the five CogRx domains (physical, cognitive, and social activity, diet, sleep). This information was used for developing tailored 3-month goals in their suboptimal areas. RESULTS: The CogRx program had high retention (all 13 CogRx participants completed the 3-month program and 97% of the full sample completed at least 1 follow-up) and was well-received as exhibited by qualitative and quantitative feedback. Themes identified in the positive feedback provided by participants on the program included: increased knowledge, goal-setting, personalization, and motivation. The COVID-19 pandemic was a consistent theme that emerged regarding barriers of adherence to the program. All three groups improved on dementia knowledge, with the largest effects observed in CogRx and Psychoeducation groups. Increases in cognitive, physical, and overall leisure activities favored the CogRx group, whereas improvements in sleep outcomes favored Psychoeducation and CogRx groups as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The CogRx program demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in increasing dementia knowledge and targeted health behaviors. Further refinement and testing of the implementation and effectiveness of similar person-centered dementia prevention approaches are needed on a larger scale in diverse populations. Such findings may have implications for clinical and public health recommendations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03864536.

Palliative Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis of Uncertainty in Anticipated Loss.

BACKGROUND: Although the concepts of uncertainty and anticipated loss have been explored in a variety of contexts, advances in genetic testing and life-sustaining technology rendered changes in the care of medically complex infants. The separate concepts no longer have the descriptive power to clarify new phenomena endured by parents in the changing neonatal landscape. A current concept analysis examining uncertainty in anticipated loss is necessary to generate knowledge concurrently with deviations observed in the neonatal intensive care unit. PURPOSE: To explore the concept of uncertainty in anticipated loss among parents of infants with genetic disorders. METHODS: Following Rodgers' method of concept analysis, the concept was named, surrogate terms, antecedents, attributes, and consequences were identified from the literature, and a model case was constructed. The databases CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO were used to conduct the literature search. RESULTS: Fifteen articles provided the data for this analysis. Uncertainty in anticipated loss is a complex, nonlinear, and multifaceted experience anteceded by an ultimately terminal diagnosis, an ambiguous prognosis, and a lack of clear knowledge to guide treatment. Its attributes include a loss of control, assumptive world remodeling, role/identity confusion, and prolonged emotional complexity that consequently leads to a cyclical pattern of positive and negative outcomes. IMPLICATIONS: This newly defined concept empowers neonatal nurses to provide care that includes a holistic understanding of the experience of uncertainty in anticipated loss . Nurses are ideally positioned and have the responsibility to utilize this concept to become better advocates for infants and facilitators of parental wellness.

The Association Between Objectively-Measured Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning in Middle-Aged and Older People Living with HIV.

Middle-aged and older people living with HIV (PWH) are at higher risk for cognitive impairment and engage in lower levels of physical activity (PA) than seronegative counterparts. Research examining the association between objectively-measured PA and cognitive function in this population is scarce. This cross-sectional study examined the association between accelerometry-measured PA and cognitive functioning among 75 PWH (mean age 55.63). Light PA was the PA variable with the most consistent associations with cognition, with more minutes per week of light PA (performed in bouts of ≥ 10 min) being associated with better executive function, working memory/attention, and speed of processing performance, adjusted for age and current CD4 count. Findings suggest that although middle-aged and older PWH engage in more light than moderate-to-vigorous PA, light PA may be beneficial to cognition. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand PA dose-response associations with cognitive trajectories, cognitive domain specificity of PA effects, and underlying neural mechanisms of PA.

Association Between VACS Index and Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons with HIV: Moderating Role of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

BACKGROUND: The health status of people with HIV (PWH) influences their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Modifiable lifestyle factors may improve HRQOL. This study (1) explores the association between modifiable lifestyle factors (physical activity and nutrition) and HRQOL and (2) examines if these lifestyle factors moderate the association health status and HRQOL. METHODS: Participants included 91 community dwelling PWH (age 36-65 years) from the university lab. Participants reported mental and physical HRQOL via the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36). Physical activity was examined via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and nutrition (i.e., fruit and vegetable consumption) was assessed with the By-Meal Screener. Health status was ascertained via the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index. RESULTS: Aim 1 analyses indicated that neither physical activity nor nutrition was related to mental HRQOL (p's > .05). However, greater physical activity (ß = .33, p < .01) and nutrition (ß = .23, p = .03) were each independently related to better physical HRQOL and remained significant after accounting for co-occurring medical conditions. For aim 2, the interaction between health status and nutrition was statistically significant (ß = .24, p = .02), such that the association between worse health status and worse physical HRQOL was weaker with better nutrition. There was not a statistically significant interaction between physical activity and health status on physical HRQOL (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Physical HRQOL is related to self-reported physical activity and nutrition, with nutrition showing a moderating effect on the association between health status and physical HRQOL. Thus, future interventional studies designed to improve physical HRQOL should target both physical activity and nutrition.

A descriptive assessment of the informed consent document used by congenital cardiac surgery centres.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent for surgery is a complex process particularly in paediatrics. Complexity increases with procedures such as CHD surgery. Regulatory agencies outline informed consent contents for surgery. We assessed and described CHD surgical informed consent contents through survey dissemination to paediatric CHD centres across United States of America. METHODS: Publicly available email addresses for 125 paediatric cardiac clinicians at 70 CHD surgical centres were obtained. Nine-item de-identified survey assessing adherence to The Joint Commission informed consent standards was created and distributed via RedCap® 14 March, 2023. A follow-up email was sent 29 March, 2023. Survey link was closed 18 April, 2023. RESULTS: Thirty-seven surveys were completed. Results showed informed consent documents were available in both paper (25, 68%) and electronic (3, 8%) format. When both (9, 24%) formats were available, decision on which format to use was based on centre protocols (1, 11%), clinician personal preference (3, 33%), procedure being performed (1, 11%), or other (4, 45%). Five (13%) centres' informed consent documents were available only in English, with 32 (87%) centres also having a Spanish version. Review of informed consent documents demonstrated missing The Joint Commission elements including procedure specific risks, benefits, treatment alternatives, and expected outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Informed consent for CHD surgery is a complex process with multiple factors involved. Majority of paediatric CHD surgical centres in the United States of America used a generic informed consent document which did not uniformly contain The Joint Commission specified information nor reflect time spent in discussion with families. Further research is needed on parental comprehension during the informed consent process.

Understanding the Impact of Span of Control on Nurse Managers and Hospital Outcomes.

GOAL: Span of control is a multidimensional concept requiring a comprehensive definition that captures the complexities of the nurse manager's role in acute care settings. This concept analysis aimed to identify factors associated with span of control and provide a comprehensive definition outlining the breadth of this concept. METHODS: ProQuest, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to search peer-reviewed literature addressing the span of control in acute care nurse management. The search produced 185 articles; 177 titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility. Data from 22 articles were included in this analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This analysis includes antecedents, attributes, and consequences of expanded nurse manager spans of control. Work-related factors such as staff and manager experience levels, work complexity, and patient acuity are attributes of a nurse manager's span of control. Our findings suggest that expanded spans of control can have negative consequences on nurse managers such as role overload and burnout. Low satisfaction among staff and patients can result from excessive spans of control. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: An awareness of span of control can promote sustainable nursing practices by improving workplace conditions, staff satisfaction, and patient care quality. Our findings may translate across other health disciplines and thus contribute to scientific knowledge that can support changes in job designs and encourage more manageable workloads.

A pilot study of cognition and creativity among persons with HIV disease referred for neuropsychological evaluation.

Creativity can help people to innovate, overcome obstacles, and successfully navigate challenges in daily life. Some aspects of creativity rely on the prefrontostriatal loops and executive functions, which can be compromised in persons with HIV (PWH). This pilot study examined whether neuropsychological functioning plays a role in creativity in PWH. A consecutive series of 41 PWH who were referred to an urban neuropsychology clinic in southeastern Texas were enrolled. Participants completed the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) to measure creativity, from which standardized creativity scores of fluency, originality, elaboration, and flexibility were derived. Participants also completed several measures of everyday functioning and a brief clinical neuropsychological battery measuring executive functions, motor skills, memory, and visuoconstruction. Global neuropsychological functioning showed a large, positive association with ATTA creativity performance that did not vary meaningfully by creativity domain and was independent of premorbid IQ. ATTA creativity scores were not associated with any measure of everyday functioning. Findings from this pilot study suggest that higher levels of neuropsychological functioning may support multiple dimensions of creativity in adults with HIV disease. Future studies might examine whether creativity moderates the association between HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and various health behaviors (e.g., adherence, appointment attendance).

Cognitive Intra-individual Variability in HIV: an Integrative Review.

Nearly 30-50% of people living with HIV experience HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). HAND indicates performance at least one standard deviation below the normative mean on any two cognitive domains. This method for diagnosing or classifying cognitive impairment has utility, however, cognitive intraindividual variability provides a different way to understand cognitive impairment. Cognitive intraindividual variability refers to the scatter in cognitive performance within repeated measures of the same cognitive test (i.e., inconsistency) or across different cognitive tests (i.e., dispersion). Cognitive intraindividual variability is associated with cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in various clinical populations. This integrative review of 13 articles examined two types of cognitive intraindividual variability in people living with HIV, inconsistency and dispersion. Cognitive intraindividual variability appears to be a promising approach to detect subtle cognitive impairments that are not captured by traditional mean-based neuropsychological testing. Greater intraindividual variability in people living with HIV has been associated with: 1) poorer cognitive performance and cognitive decline, 2) cortical atrophy, both gray and white matter volume, 3) poorer everyday functioning (i.e., driving simulation performance), specifically medication adherence, and 4) even mortality. This inspires future directions for research. First, greater cognitive intraindividual variability may reflect a greater task demand on executive control to harness and regulate cognitive control over time. By improving executive functioning through cognitive training, it may reduce cognitive intraindividual variability which could slow down cognitive decline. Second, cognitive intraindividual variability may be reconsidered in prior cognitive intervention studies in which only mean-based cognitive outcomes were used. It is possible that such cognitive interventions may actually improve cognitive intraindividual variability, which could have clinical relevance.

Transportation Barriers and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living with HIV in the Deep South.

Access to reliable transportation is a social determinant of health imperative for disease management for those aging with HIV/AIDS. To what degree transportation barriers are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in middle-aged and older people living with HIV (PWH) in the Deep South region of the United States is presently unknown. PWH (n = 261, age range = 39 to 73 years old, 80.1% African American, 64.4% male) were recruited from an academic medical center in the Deep South. Variables included sociodemographics, HIV characteristics, depressive symptoms, HRQOL, and perceived transportation barriers. Spearman rho correlations and linear regressions accounting for covariates were conducted. After accounting for covariates, greater perceived transportation barriers were associated with worse health perceptions, pain, social functioning, health distress, and health transitions. Access to reliable transportation is a key factor in improving health for PWH. Considerations for healthcare and traffic safety are discussed.

Emerging directions of cognitive aging with HIV: practice and policy implications for social work.

Cognitive impairments have been endemic to the HIV epidemic since its beginning and persist to this day. These impairments are attributed to HIV-induced neuroinflammation, the long-term effects of combination antiretroviral therapy, lifestyle factors (e.g., sedentary behavior, substance use), neuro-comorbidities (e.g., depression), age-associated comorbidities (e.g., heart disease, hypertension), and others causes. Normal aging and lifestyle also contribute to the development of cognitive impairment. Regardless of the etiology, such cognitive impairments interfere with HIV care (e.g., medication adherence) and everyday functioning (e.g., driving safely, financial management). With more than half of people with HIV (PWH) 50 years and older, and ~45% of all PWH meeting the criteria for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), those aging PWH are more vulnerable for developing cognitive impairment. This article provides an update to a social work model to identify and monitor PWH for cognitive impairment. Within this update, the state of the science on protecting brain health and cognitive reserve within the context of neuroHIV is also presented. From this, implications for practice and policy to promote successful cognitive functioning in older PWH are provided.

Can Individualized-Targeted Computerized Cognitive Training Benefit Adults with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder? The Training on Purpose Study (TOPS).

Half of people with HIV (PWH) have HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). This study examined whether cognition can be improved using a framework targeting impaired individual cognitive domains in PWH with HAND. In this two-group pre-post experimental design study, 88 adults with HAND were randomized to either: (1) a no-contact control group (n = 40) or (2) the Individualized-Targeted Cognitive Training group (n = 48). Baseline cognitive performance was assessed on eight cognitive domains. A theoretical framework was used to determine the two cognitive domains selected for training. With priority on speed of processing (SOP) and attention impairments, participants received SOP and/or attention training if such impairments were detected; if not, participants were assigned to cognitive training in one/two of the least impaired cognitive domains contributing to their HAND diagnosis. Global cognitive score was slightly improved following training (p = 0.256; d = - 0.21), but it was not significant. Significant improvements were observed on SOP following training in that domain (SOP; d = - 0.88; p = 0.011). SOP training also improved functioning in other cognitive domains. This individualized cognitive intervention did not change HAND status, but it did result in improved SOP, in turn yielding improvement in other cognitive domains.

Successful Functional Aging in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with HIV.

People living with HIV (PLWH) experience greater everyday functioning impairment. We examined frequency and correlates of successful functional aging (SFA) in PLWH. Using gold-standard questionnaires, SFA was defined in 174 HIV+ and 71 HIV- adults as absence of significant everyday cognitive symptoms and declines in instrumental activities of daily living. More HIV- (45%) than HIV+ (18%) adults met SFA criteria (p < 0.01). Depression, cognitive functioning, socioeconomic status, and HIV status were independent correlates of SFA (p values < 0.05). Motor ability, learning, and verbal fluency were associated with SFA. SFA was associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). PLWH are three times less likely to achieve SFA than HIV- adults, a phenotype that translates to HRQoL. While SFA is multifactorial, driven by clinico-demographic factors, HIV may pose additional risk to achieving SFA. Further work should examine other mechanisms whereby HIV hinders SFA (e.g., biomarkers, stress, mental health) and ultimately inform interventions to facilitate SFA.

Critical, and not functional, health literacy is associated with missed HIV clinic visits in adults and older adults living with HIV in the Deep South.

Engagement in care is a key component of the HIV treatment cascade and is influenced by biopsychosocial factors. Little is known about the association of health literacy with this impactful outcome in people living with HIV (PLWH). Ninety-five PLWH completed a comprehensive battery including health literacy measures covering several domains (i.e., numeracy, reading, self-efficacy, and ability to appraise and access health information). Engagement in care was operationalized as missed clinic visits (i.e., proportion of clinic visits in the prior 24 months where the participant did not attend and did not cancel or reschedule). The ability to appraise health information (measured by the Newest Vital Sign [NVS]) was the only significant health literacy predictor of missed clinic visits. Hierarchical linear regression including clinico-demographics and all health literacy variables showed that age, depression, neurocognition, and NVS were significant (p < 0.05) correlates of missed clinic visits. The ability to appraise health information was a strong and independent predictor of missed clinic visits in PLWH, even in the context of traditional correlates. Such measures may be useful in identifying PLWH with low health literacy who may be at risk for poorer engagement in care. Future research developing interventions targeting this health literacy dimension are warranted.

Resilience attenuates the association between neurocognitive functioning and everyday functioning in individuals aging with HIV in the Deep South.

OBJECTIVES: Adults aging with HIV are at risk for poorer neurocognitive and daily functioning. Identifying factors to protect such outcomes is a significant research priority. The aim of this study was to explore the role of resilience in cognitive and everyday functioning in a largely African American and low socioeconomic status sample of adults and older adults with HIV in the Deep South. METHODS/DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study 100 HIV+ middle-aged and older adults (range 40-73; 61% aged 50+) completed a comprehensive neurocognitive battery along with self-reported measures of resilience and everyday functioning. RESULTS: Higher resilience was associated with better global neurocognitive functioning (rho = 0.31, P < 0.01), as well as better functioning in all domains (verbal fluency, executive functioning, speed of information processing, learning, working memory) except recall and motor skills. Resilience was also significantly associated with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) dependence, with lower resilience observed in those with IADL dependence compared with those who were IADL independent (P < 0.01). In a multiple regression adjusting for data-driven covariates (verbal IQ, income, depression), and global neurocognitive impairment, resilience was the only significant (P = 0.02) correlate of IADL dependence. A follow-up mediation showed that the direct relationship between neurocognitive functioning and IADL declines was fully attenuated after accounting for shared variance with resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience is associated with better cognitive and functional outcomes in people aging with HIV. While further work is needed to understand these associations over time, results suggest interventions to build resilience may promote successful aging in this vulnerable population.

Informing Adults With HIV of Cognitive Performance Deficits Indicative of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: A Content Analysis.

Approximately 50% of persons with HIV (PWH) meet the cognitive criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Informing PWH they may have HAND raises concerns given the lack of consensus-derived treatment options and overall knowledge about HAND. Thus, the current qualitative descriptive study aimed to describe PWHs' reactions to a possible diagnosis of HAND. Cognitive tests were administered to 135 PWH to determine whether they met the criteria for HAND. From 135 PWH, 109 (80.7%) participants met the cognitive criteria and were informed about their probable HAND diagnosis. Approximately 2 months later, the remaining 85 participants (24 were lost to attrition) were asked about their reactions and concerns to receiving a probable diagnosis of HAND. Their responses were thematically coded. Themes that emerged were Desire to Improve, Confirmation, Not Concerned/No Reaction, Concerned, Unexpected, Anxiety, Knowledge Seeking, and Sadness. Most themes were positive or neutral, whereas fewer negative themes were observed. Thematic/content analysis appeared to show that most PWH reacted well to their probable diagnosis and were open to ways to improve their brain health. Such openness represents a window to provide health education to patients. Implications for practice and research are provided. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(12), 48-55.].

Positive Psychological Factors are Linked to Successful Cognitive Aging Among Older Persons Living with HIV/AIDS.

We aimed to characterize successful cognitive aging (SCA) among older HIV-infected (HIV+) and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) adults, and to determine associations with positive psychological factors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Ninety-nine HIV+ and 46 HIV- older adults (≥ 50 years) completed measures of neurocognition, positive psychological factors, and HRQoL. Using study-defined SCA criteria (i.e., no cognitive or everyday impairment or major depressive disorder), we compared positive psychological factors and HRQoL across four groups: HIV+/SCA+, HIV+/SCA-, HIV-/SCA+, HIV-/SCA-. SCA was identified in 29% of the HIV+ sample compared to 61% of the HIV- sample (p < 0.01). HIV+/SCA+ participants had higher scores on 8 of 10 measures of positive psychological factors as well as better HRQoL (ps < 0.05) as compared to the HIV+/SCA- group. Furthermore, the HIV+/SCA+ participants had comparable scores on these factors as HIV- adults. Fewer HIV+ than HIV- participants met SCA criteria; however, the level of positive psychological factors among the HIV+/SCA+ group was comparable to the HIV- sample. Our findings present opportunities for interventions to optimize positive psychological factors and potentially improve SCA among older HIV+ adults.

RESUMEN: Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar el envejecimiento cognitivo exitoso (ECE) entre personas mayores VIH+ y VIH−, y determinar asociaciones con factores psicológicos positivos y con la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud (CVrS). Noventa y nueve personas mayores (de 50 años o más) VIH+ y 46 VIH− completaron indicadores de neurocognición, de factores psicológicos positivos y de CVrS. Mediante la utilización de criterios de ECE definidos por el presente estudio (p. ej. la ausencia de deterioro cognitivo, impedimentos en el funcionamiento cotidiano, o trastorno depresivo mayor) comparamos los factores psicológicos positivos y la CVrS entre cuatro grupos: VIH+/ECE+, VIH+/ECE−, VIH−/ECE+, VIH−/ECE−. El ECE fue identificado en 29% de la muestra de VIH+ comparado con 61% de la muestra de VIH− (p < 0,01). Los participantes VIH+/ECE+ obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en 8 de los 10 indicadores de factores psicológicos positivos, así como mejor CVrS (ps < 0,05), comparado con el grupo VIH+/ECE−. Además, los participantes VIH+/ECE+ obtuvieron valores comparables a los de los adultos VIH− en estos factores. Una proporción menor de participantes VIH+ que VIH− cumplieron criterios de ECE; sin embargo, el nivel de los factores psicológicos positivos en el grupo VIH+/ECE+ fue comparable a la muestra de la población VIH−. Nuestros resultados presentan oportunidades de intervención para optimizar los factores psicológicos positivos y potencialmente mejorar el ECE entre los adultos mayores con VIH.

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Functioning Among HIV-Infected Adults.

Higher levels of physical activity (PA) have been linked to better neurocognitive functioning in many populations. The current study examines the longitudinal association between PA and neurocognitive functioning among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons. Community-dwelling adults (N = 291) self-reported level of PA and completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery at two to four study visits (Mean follow-up time = 2.6 years). Participants were divided into three PA groups: "No PA" (no PA at any visit), "consistent PA" (PA at ≥50% of visits), and "inconsistent PA" (PA < 50% of visits). A mixed effect model, adjusting for significant covariates showed that all PA groups had statistically significant, yet modest, neurocognitive decline over time; and, the consistent PA group began with, and maintained, significantly better neurocognitive function compared to the other two PA groups. This effect was evident among both HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected persons, despite the fact that HIV-infected persons showed lower baseline neurocognitive function. PA is a modifiable lifestyle behavior that may help to protect against neurocognitive impairment regardless of HIV status, however, given the proportion of HIV-infected individuals who evidence neurocognitive difficulties, a focus on increasing PA seems warranted.

RESUMEN: La actividad física (AF) ha sido asociada con un mejor funcionamiento neurocognitivo en varios grupos. Este estudio examinó la asociación longitudinal entre la AF y el funcionamiento neurocognitivo en personas con y sin infección del VIH. Adultos viviendo en la comunidad (N = 291) proporcionaron información acerca de sus niveles de AF y completaron una batería neuropsicológica exhaustiva. Los participantes completaron entre dos y cuatro visitas relacionadas con el estudio (tiempo de seguimiento promedio = 2,6 años) y fueron divididos en tres grupos de AF: "Ninguna AF" (Ninguna AF durante todas las visitas del estudio), "AF Consistente" (AF durante 50% o más de las visitas del estudio), y "AF Inconsistente" (AF durante menos del 50% de las visitas del estudio). Un modelo estadístico mixto, ajustando por el efecto de variables externas, indicó que hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa, pero poco pronunciada, en el funcionamiento neurocognitivo en todos los grupos. Además, el grupo con AF Consistente demostró un mejor funcionamiento neurocognitivo en comparación con los otros dos grupos de AF al comienzo del estudio, el cual se mantuvo durante el seguimiento. A pesar de que las personas con VIH demostraron un funcionamiento neurocognitivo más bajo al comienzo del estudio que las personas sin VIH, el efecto de AF fue demostrado en los dos grupos. Es importante recalcar que la AF es un factor de vida modificable que podría proteger contra los daños neurocognitivos independientemente de si las personas tienen o no VIH. Dada la proporción de personas con VIH que demuestran problemas neurocognitivos relacionados con esta enfermedad, será importante enfocar los esfuerzos investigativos en desarrollar formas de incrementar la AF en este grupo de personas.