Date Published:
2023 Dec

Publication Type:
Journal Article

Authors:

Arin Fisher
David J Moore
Andrew J Levine
Eliezer Masliah
Ben Gouaux
Virawudh Soontornniyomkij
Scott Letendre
Erin E Sundermann

PMID:
37943478

URL:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37943478/

DOI:
10.1007/s13365-023-01177-5

Abstract:
We examined whether cognitive reserve moderated the relationship between neurodegeneration and cognition in 67 postmortem persons with HIV (PWH) who were cognitively assessed within 1 year of death. Cognitive reserve was measured via the Wide Range Achievement Test-4 reading subtest (WRAT4). Synaptodendritic neurodegeneration was based on densities of synaptophysin and microtubule-associated protein 2 immunohistochemical reactivity in frontal cortex, and categorized as minimal, moderate, or severe (tertile-split). T-Scores from 15 cognitive tests were averaged into a global cognitive T-score. Among those with low cognitive reserve (based on WRAT4 median split), the moderate neurodegeneration group showed cognition that was poorer than the minimal neurodegeneration group and comparable to the severe neurodegeneration group. Among those with high cognitive reserve, the moderate neurodegeneration group showed cognition comparable to the minimal neurodegeneration group and better than the severe neurodegeneration group. High cognitive reserve may buffer against cognitive impairment among PWH with moderate, but not severe, neurodegeneration. Keywords: Cognitive reserve; HAND; HIV; Neuropathology; Neuropsychology.