Factors Predicting Detrimental Change in Declarative Memory Among Women With HIV: A Study of Heterogeneity in Cognition

Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, Pauline M. Maki, Yanxun Xu, Wei Jin, Raha Dastgheyb, Dionna W. Williams, Gayle Springer, Kathryn Anastos, Deborah Gustafson, Amanda B. Spence, Adaora A. Adimora, Drenna Waldrop, David E. Vance, Hector Bolivar, Victor G. Valcour, Leah H. Rubin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Statistical techniques used to study cognitive function in HIV typically yield normative estimates and can mask the heterogeneity in cognitive trajectories over time. We applied a novel statistical approach to identify clusters of individuals with distinct patterns of change in declarative memory in HIV-seropositive (HIV+) and HIV-seronegative (HIV−) women. Methods: 1731 women from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, a multi-center, prospective cohort study, completed the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HLVT-R) at >2 visits. To derive subgroups with similar patterns of decline by HIV-serostatus, we used a mixed-effects framework that modeled the trajectory of multiple declarative memory outcomes over time, while simultaneously clustering individuals. Results: Of the 1731 participants, 1149 were HIV+ (70% Black/African American [AA]; 30% White/Other [W/O]) and 582 were HIV− (68% AA; 32% W/O). Race stratification was necessary to optimize clustering. Among HIV+AA’s, four subgroups emerged: a subgroup with minimal decline, two with accelerated decline, and one with stable but low performance. In HIV− AA, three subgroups emerged: one with minimal decline and two with accelerated decline. In multivariable-adjusted models among HIV+, individuals with accelerated decline were less educated (P < 0.001) and more likely to have a history of depression (P < 0.001) versus those with minimal decline. Similar subgroups were identified in W/O HIV+ and W/O HIV− participants. Conclusion: We identified clinically meaningful subgroups of women with distinct phenotypes of declarative memory decline, which depend on race and HIV-serostatus using a data driven approach. Identification of underlying mechanisms and risk factors contributing to the observed differences are warranted. More broadly our modeling approach could be other populations to identify risk factors for accelerated cognitive decline and to personalize interventions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number548521
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2020

Keywords

  • HIV
  • declarative memory
  • longitudinal
  • phenotyping
  • women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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