Over 50% of adults with HIV have some form of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) which represents a significant symptom that interferes with everyday functioning and quality of life. As adults age with HIV, they are more likely to develop comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and insulin resistance which will further contribute to poorer cognitive functioning and HAND. Based upon the Frascati criteria, HAND is diagnosed when a person performs less than 1 to 2 SD below their normative mean (education & age) on measures of two or more cognitive domains (e.g., attention, speed of processing, verbal memory, executive functioning). Yet, from the cognitive literature and our prior studies, we know we can administer certain computerized cognitive training programs to improve specific cognitive domains in older adults and those with HIV. Such cognitive training programs may be effective in older adults with HIV and therefore we may be able to change the diagnosis of HAND in such cognitively vulnerable adults. In this pre- post experimental study, 146 older adults (50+) with HAND will be randomized to be in either: 1) the Individualized-Targeted Cognitive Training, or 2) a no-contact control group. We will focus on those cognitive domains in which participants express an impairment and train them with the corresponding cognitive program. Such an Individualized-Targeted Cognitive Training approach using standard cognitive training programs may offer hope and symptom relief to those individuals diagnosed with HAND. Furthermore, we assert that these changes will result in improved everyday functioning (e.g., IADLs) and quality of life. This approach represents a paradigm shift in possibly changing the way we look at HAND.
Specific Aim 1 : Compare adults who do receive Individualized-Targeted Cognitive Training to those who do not in order to determine whether a change in HAND prevalence and severity occurs between groups. Exploratory Aim 1: Compare adults who do receive individualized-targeted cognitive training to those who do not in order to determine whether this improves everyday functioning (e.g., IADLs). Exploratory Aim 2: Determine whether improvements in HAND and/or everyday functioning over time mediate improvements in quality of life.
Program Narrative Those with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder are vulnerable to speed or processing and attention impairments that can impact everyday functioning and quality of life. Unfortunately, only two cognitive training studies have attempted to improve functioning in adults with HIV; yet, from the cognitive aging literature, it is clear that such cognitive training can improve cognition, IADLs, and quality of life.
