Doctoral Thesis
MATCH Study: Memory, Ageing, and Cognition in HIV
Professional Doctorate, Murdoch University
2024
Abstract
As living with HIV shifts to a model of chronic illness management, we are seeing people with HIV age into older adulthood for the first time since the initial epidemic. However, with inconsistent cognitive profiles and outdated HIV-specific screening tools, it remains unclear how best to clinically assess people living with HIV who might be experiencing cognitive concerns.
In study one, a systematic review of the literature was used to assess the utility of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a brief screening tool for cognitive impairment in people living and ageing with HIV. Additionally, the quality of evidence and the clinical recommendations provided by researchers for its use were examined. It was concluded that the psychometric properties of the MoCA are sub-optimal for detecting mild cognitive impairment in people living and ageing with HIV. Further, exclusionary criteria that limited the direct applicability of the findings to the broader HIV population often were used. Last, there were limited actionable clinical recommendations for practitioners for use of the MoCA for people living and ageing with HIV.
In study two, the cognitive functioning of 32 people living with HIV in Western Australia was explored. Participants were assessed with a clinical intake assessment, a comprehensive cognitive assessment, mood, and quality of life measures. Cognitive profiles amongst people living and ageing with HIV were inconsistent, with no apparent correlation with common healthy ageing factors. Learning and memory were commonly impaired among the participants rated as mildly cognitively impaired. Further, though not impaired, working memory and visuospatial skills were often lower in clinically impaired participants compared to non-impaired participants.
Details
- Title
- MATCH Study: Memory, Ageing, and Cognition in HIV
- Authors/Creators
- Sarah Seddon
- Contributors
- Peter Drummond (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy AgeingLisa Richardson (Supervisor)Shu H Yau (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy Ageing
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Professional Doctorate
- Identifiers
- 991005765133307891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
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