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Vascular risk factors, HIV serostatus, and cognitive dysfunction in gay and bisexual men

J T Becker1, L Kingsley, J Mullen

  • 1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. beckerjt@upmc.edu

Neurology
|October 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular disease risk factors, not HIV, primarily impact cognitive function in older men. Managing these factors is key to preserving cognitive health in aging populations, including those with HIV.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cognitive performance in aging populations.
  • Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
  • HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate the relationship between cognitive performance, CVD risk factors, and HIV status.
  • Investigate predictors of cognitive function in older men.

Main Methods:

  • Neuropsychological evaluations for psychomotor speed and memory.
  • Assessment of subclinical CVD using coronary artery calcium and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT).
  • Analysis of laboratory markers and vital signs.

Main Results:

  • Carotid IMT and glomerular filtration rate associated with psychomotor speed.
  • IMT associated with memory performance.
  • Detectable HIV RNA linked to lower memory performance in HIV-infected individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Medical factors, not HIV status, are key predictors of cognitive performance in older men on HAART.
  • Managing aging-related medical factors can benefit cognitive health.
  • Optimizing clinical management may reduce cognitive decline risk.
Abstract

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