As people age with HIV, the synergistic effects with normal age-related cognitive declines will accentuate and/or accelerate declines in cognitive functioning which can be detected as early as in one's 40s. Although interventions are needed to protect/improve cognitive functioning, one intervention already exists to improve speed of processing. NINR/NIA (January 14, 2014) announced that Speed of Processing Training used in the ACTIVE Study (N = 2,802 community-dwelling older adults) has the ability to enable older people to maintain their cognitive abilities as they age even 10 years after training. As shown in the ACTIVE Study, this intervention uniquely improves driving, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), health-related quality of life, self-rated health, internal locus of control, and protects one from depression; these represent areas of needed intervention for adults with HIV as well. In adults with HIV, our pilot studies likewise indicate speed of processing declines are associated with poorer driving simulator performance and more self-reported at-fault automobile crashes; such speed of processing declines on driving alone represent a significant public health concern. We also demonstrated that Speed of Processing Training improved this cognitive ability and translated into improved performance on a timed measure of IADLs. Based on our prior research, this RCT proposal consists of a pre-post two-year longitudinal experimental design whereby 264 adults with HIV, 40+ years and diagnosed with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder, will be randomly assigned to one of three training conditions: 1) 10 hours of laboratory-based Speed of Processing Training, 2) 20 hours of laboratory- based Speed of Processing Training, or 3) 10 hours of a standardized computer-contact control (sham) condition.
AIM 1 : Determine whether 10 vs 20 hours of speed of processing training will improve this cognitive ability at post-test, year 1, and year 2 after baseline.
AIM 2 : Determine whether 10 vs 20 hours of speed of processing training will improve everyday functioning at post-test, year 1, and year 2 after baseline. Exploratory AIM: Determine whether improvement in speed of processing and/or everyday functioning over time mediate improvement in quality of life (e.g., depression).

Public Health Relevance

Cognitive aging with HIV is concerning due to three facts: 1) using Fascati criteria, ~50% of adults with HIV experience HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), 2) by 2020, 70% of those with HIV will be 50 and older, and 3) age-related cognitive declines may exacerbate HAND. Such cognitive impairments occur in a number of domains (i.e., memory, attention) that negatively impact everyday functioning and quality of life. Fortunately, as observed in the 10-year ACTIVE Study (N = 2,802) which examined memory, reasoning, and speed of processing training, speed of processing training has superior properties to improve this cognitive ability and translate to improvements in everyday functioning and quality of life which has been shown in our pilot studies to improve outcomes for middle-aged (40+) and older adults with HIV; this study will build upon this existing science to improve cognitive and everyday functioning in adults with HIV.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH106366-02
Application #
9251328
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSCH)
Program Officer
Brouwers, Pim
Project Start
2016-04-01
Project End
2021-02-28
Budget Start
2017-03-01
Budget End
2018-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$584,991
Indirect Cost
$187,038
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Vance, David E; Fazeli, Pariya L; Azuero, Andres et al. (2018) Can computerized cognitive training reverse the diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder? A research protocol. Res Nurs Health 41:11-18
Vance, David E; Jensen, Michael; Tende, Frida et al. (2018) Individualized-Targeted Computerized Cognitive Training to Treat HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: An Interim Descriptive Analysis. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 29:604-611
Meneses, Karen; Benz, Rachel; Bail, Jennifer R et al. (2018) Speed of processing training in middle-aged and older breast cancer survivors (SOAR): results of a randomized controlled pilot. Breast Cancer Res Treat 168:259-267
Vance, David E; Gakumo, C Ann; Childs, Gwendolyn D et al. (2017) Feedback on a Multimodal Cognitive Intervention for Adults Aging With HIV: A Focus Group Study. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 28:685-697
Vance, David E; Gakumo, C Ann; Childs, Gwendolyn D et al. (2017) Perceptions of Brain Health and Cognition in Older African Americans and Caucasians With HIV: A Focus Group Study. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 28:862-876
Hossain, Shyla; Fazeli, Pariya L; Tende, Frida et al. (2017) The Potential of Computerized Cognitive Training on HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: A Case Comparison Study. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 28:971-976
Vance, David; Fazeli, Pariya; Shacka, John et al. (2017) Testing a Computerized Cognitive Training Protocol in Adults Aging With HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders: Randomized Controlled Trial Rationale and Protocol. JMIR Res Protoc 6:e68
Vance, David E (2017) Interpreting the influence of race and cognitive activity on neurocognition in adults aging with HIV. AIDS 31:443-445
Vance, David E; Rubin, Leah H; Valcour, Victor et al. (2016) Aging and Neurocognitive Functioning in HIV-Infected Women: a Review of the Literature Involving the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 13:399-411
Vance, David E; Fazeli, Pariya L; Cody, Shameka L et al. (2016) A Description and Critical Analysis of the Therapeutic Uses of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Implications for Clinical Practice and Research. Nursing (Auckl) 6:23-31