Work

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

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: 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.

Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1002/gps.4988

Authors: Pariya L. Fazeli, Raeanne C. Moore, David E. Vance

Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of California San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health