Episodic memory rehabilitation for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders: A scoping review

Despite extensive research on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), interest in cognitive rehabilitation has emerged only within the past 15 years. HAND are characterised by mild-to-moderate impairments in multiple cognitive domains: attention, episodic memory and executive functions. In the context of HAND, the prevalence of episodic memory disorders is high, ranging from 40% to 65% across studies. This scoping review aims to identify available evidence of rehabilitation programmes targeting episodic memory disorders associated with HIV and to examine their characteristics and theoretical foundations. The initial search included rehabilitation programmes, but this yielded only three eligible clinical trials. Therefore, we expanded our inclusion criteria to encompass experimental studies of potential rehabilitation techniques aimed at improving episodic memory. The search results included 610 records, and 27 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 10 studies were included: 3 clinical trials and 7 experimental studies. The clinical trials all targeted multiple cognitive functions, episodic memory included. Two trials used a computer-based training approach, while one combined stimulation and compensatory techniques. Two trials demonstrated a significant effect on memory test scores post-intervention compared with the control group, but none showed an impact on quality of life, mental health or a transfer to memory functioning in daily life. The seven experimental cognitive studies demonstrated benefits for episodic memory (retrospective and prospective) using various memory techniques: retrieval practice, self-generated encoding and external aids. This scoping review underscores the need to advance clinical research and rehabilitation practices targeting episodic memory impairment in HAND.