Abstract:
The wider availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy has resulted in a concomitant increase
in adults aging with HIV and the persistence of milder forms of neuropsychological impairment
in this cohort. This study investigated the differences in neuropsychological functioning between
a group of HIV+ adults and older adults and an HIV− matched control group. Participants from
a semi-urban community clinic volunteered to participate in the study. The performance of
50 participants (33 HIV+ and 17 HIV−) who met the inclusion criteria were compared on the
following measures: Dementia Rating Scale-2, the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Symbol Digits
Modalities Test, and the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Trail Making Test. The results
indicated that the HIV+ in comparison with the HIV− negative group had poorer performance
profiles in global cognitive functioning, memory, executive functioning, visuoconstruction ability,
psychomotor functioning, and processing speed. The findings suggest that further research in
South Africa will contribute to a better understanding of the neuropsychological profiles of adults
aging with HIV and inform intervention strategies specific to addressing the mental healthcare
needs of this subgroup.
