Age differences and neurocognitive performance in HIV-infected adults

A clinical sample of 257 men were examined in a study of age-group differen ces on neurocognitive performance in adults with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1). Older HIV-infected (HIV+) adults (M = 44.5 years) pe rformed worse than younger HIV+ adults (M = 31.5 years) on a variety of neu rocognitive tests. Similarly, HIV+ adults with the Acquired Immunodeficienc y Syndrome (AIDS) performed worse than HIV+ adults without AIDS. Of greates t interest, age-group differences were larger in the AIDS group versus the No AIDS group. Brinley plot analyses show that the HIV+ adults presented mi nimal (or no) generalized cognitive slowing but that individual differences were systematically larger as a function of age and AIDS diagnosis. These results support both a brain reserve capacity model and a common-cause mode l of aging and HIV infection. Implications of aging and individual differen ces in HIV infection are discussed.