Date Published:
2014
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Authors:
Secondary:
Behavoiral Medicine
Volume:
40
Pagination:
116-123
Issue:
3
URL:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
DOI:
10.1080/08964289.2014.914464
Keywords:
Aging;AIDS;Cognition;External;HAND;Health disparities;Hispanics;HIV;Latina/os;neurocognitive;neuropsychological impairment
Abstract:
<p>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</p>