A Brief Report of an Executive Functioning Training Pilot RCT in Adults with HIV: A Descriptive Case Comparison Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Cognitive intra-individual variability (IIV) involves fluctuations in cognitive performance.
• In people living with HIV (PLWH), cognitive IIV is linked to cognitive decline, brain atrophy, and mortality.
• The Executive Dysfunction Hypothesis posits that enhancing executive functioning can decrease cognitive IIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an approach for administering executive functioning training to PLWH.
• To investigate the potential of executive functioning training to reduce cognitive IIV in PLWH.
• To present preliminary findings from a case analysis of an ongoing study.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 120 PLWH.
• Interim descriptive case analysis of four participants (two trained, two controls).
• Executive functioning training group received 20 hours of computerized exercises.

Main Results:

• The training group showed improvements in reaction time (Hit RT) by -24.5 points.
• Cognitive IIV (HRT SD, Variability) decreased by -16 points in the training group compared to controls.
• Preliminary results suggest executive functioning training reduced cognitive IIV.

Conclusions:

• Improving executive functioning may stabilize cognitive performance, as indicated by reduced cognitive IIV.
• Findings support the Executive Dysfunction Hypothesis.
• Further research on cognitive IIV could inform strategies to enhance cognition in aging PLWH.