Chronically elevated depressive symptoms interact with acute increases in inflammation to predict worse neurocognition among people with HIV.

Abstract

We examined the joint effects of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)) and systemic inflammation (plasma C-reactive protein (CRP)) on longitudinal profiles of neurocognition in a cohort of 143 people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy. Global neurocognition, processing speed, motor skills, and attention/working memory all worsened as CRP increased but only among PWH who, on average, exhibited moderate to severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II > 22). Findings suggest that some PWH with chronically elevated depressive symptoms may have an inflammatory subtype of depression and a particular vulnerability to neurocognitive changes that may respond to drugs targeting inflammation or its neural sequelae.

• Authors: Rowan Saloner, Emily W Paolillo, Robert K Heaton, David J Grelotti, Murray B Stein, Andrew H Miller, J Hampton Atkinson, Scott L Letendre, Ronald J Ellis, Igor Grant, Jennifer E Iudicello, David J Moore
• Journal: Journal of neurovirology (J Neurovirol) Vol. 27 Issue 1 Pg. 160-167 (02 2021) ISSN: 1538-2443 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33405198 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-HIV Agents (therapeutic use)
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Cognition
• Cognitive Dysfunction (virology)
• Depression (etiology)
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Inflammation
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged