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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
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Racial differences in health and cognition as a function of HIV among older adults

April D Thames1,2, Rodolfo Nunez1, George M Slavich3

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

The Clinical Neuropsychologist
|August 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Health risks, measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), impact cognitive function in older adults. Higher CCI scores correlate with poorer cognitive outcomes, especially in individuals with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Aging Research
  • Infectious Diseases and Virology
  • Neuropsychology and Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Health disparities and their impact on cognitive aging are significant concerns.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with increased health risks and potential cognitive sequelae.
  • Understanding the interplay of comorbidities, race, and cognitive function in aging populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between health risk factors, quantified by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and cognitive outcomes.
  • To examine these relationships in a diverse sample of older adults, stratified by HIV serostatus and race.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 380 adults aged 50+ (221 HIV-positive, 159 HIV-negative) were recruited.
  • Comorbidities were assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).
  • Cognitive function was evaluated using a brief test battery.

Main Results:

  • Health risks (CCI scores) were higher in the HIV-positive group.
  • A significant HIV-serostatus × Race interaction was observed for CCI scores.
  • Across the entire sample, higher CCI scores were significantly associated with poorer global cognitive performance (β = -0.24, p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

  • HIV serostatus is an important factor in studies of racial disparities in health and cognitive aging.
  • Multiple medical comorbidities contribute to cognitive decline in aging individuals, particularly those living with HIV.
  • Neuropsychological assessments should consider the burden of comorbidities in patients with HIV.

Keywords:
Charlson Comorbidity IndexHIVcognitionrace

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