Aging and HIV/AIDS: Neurocognitive Implications for Older HIV-Positive Latina/o Adults

Abstract

In recent years, HIV/AIDS populations have become older and increasingly more ethnically diverse. Concurrently, the prevalence of HIV-related neurocognitive (NC) impairment remains high. This study examined the effects of age and ethnicity on NC function in HIV-positive adults. The sample (N = 126; 84 Latina/o and 42 Non-Hispanic White) completed a comprehensive NC battery. Global NC and domain average demographically-corrected t-scores were generated. There were no significant differences between Younger (<50 years) Latina/os and non-Hispanic Whites on Global NC function or NC domains (all p's >.10), with generally small effect sizes. Older Latina/os (≥50 years) were significantly more impaired than Older Non-Hispanic Whites on processing speed and learning, with trends in Global NC function and memory. Further, effect sizes fell within the medium to large range (Cohen's d's = .49–1.15). This study suggests that older Latina/os are at potentially greater risk for NC impairment, particularly in processing speed and learning, when compared to similarly-aged non-Hispanic whites.

Keywords:

• aging
• AIDS
• cognition
• health disparities
• HAND
• Hispanics
• HIV
• Latina/os
• neurocognitive
• neuropsychological impairment

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Letty Mintz, ANP, and Rhonda Burgess, MA; our community partners through the Manhattan HIV Care Network, the Harlem Community Academic Partnership; and most importantly, all of the individuals who participated in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by K23MH07971801 and an Early Career Development Award from the Northeast Consortium for Minority Faculty Development (to MRM); R24MH59724 and U01MH083501 (to SM); N01MH22005 (Igor Grant PI, subcontract to SM); and by the Clinical Research Center of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (M01-RR00071).