title: Food Insecurity Is Associated with Cognitive Deficits Among HIV-Positive, But Not HIV-Negative, Individuals in a United States Sample.
abstract: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the United States (US) have disproportionately high rates of food insecurity (FI). In the general population, FI has been associated with cognitive impairment among older adults and may exacerbate HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. The current study assessed the effects of FI and HIV infection on the neuropsychological performance of 61 HIV-positive and 36 HIV-negative adults in the US. While the main effects were minimal, the interactive effects revealed that FI was related to deficits in speed of information processing, learning, memory, motor function, and overall cognitive impairment for the HIV-positive group, but not the HIV-negative group. The interactive effects remained after controlling for relevant sociodemographic characteristics. Although bidirectional associations cannot be ruled out in a cross-sectional study, the results suggest that FI may contribute to cognitive impairment among HIV-positive adults in the US. Given the high rates of socioeconomic disadvantage among PLWHA in the US, addressing FI as part of routine clinical care may be warranted.
authors: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 333, Trent Hall, 310 Trent Drive, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA. andrea.hobkirk@duke.edu.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. andrea.hobkirk@duke.edu.
authors: Andréa L
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3020-3963
authors: AL
authors: Hobkirk
authors: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 333, Trent Hall, 310 Trent Drive, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors: Sheri L
authors: SL
authors: Towe
authors: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 333, Trent Hall, 310 Trent Drive, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
authors: Puja
authors: P
authors: Patel
authors: Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 333, Trent Hall, 310 Trent Drive, Box 90519, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.|Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors: Christina S
authors: CS
authors: Meade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States
keywords: Cognitive; Food insecurity; HIV/AIDS; Neuropsychology; Nutrition