Cognitive prescriptions for reducing dementia risk factors among Black/African Americans: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.

Objectives: Black/African Americans (B/AAs) have double the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia than Whites, which is largely driven by health behaviors. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a pilot randomized clinical trial of an individualized multidomain health behavior intervention among middle-aged and older B/AAs (dubbed Cognitive Prescriptions [CogRx]).

Design: Thirty-nine community-dwelling B/AA participants aged 45-65 without significant cognitive impairment were randomized to one of three groups: CogRx, Psychoeducation, or no-contact control.

Psychological resilience is an independent correlate of health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older adults with HIV in the Deep South.

Older people living with HIV (PLWH) are at risk for poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Psychological resilience may protect HRQoL in this population. The sample included 174 predominately African American PLWH (age 40-73).

Rationale and protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of a cognitive prescription intervention for reducing dementia risk factors among African Americans.

Background & Purpose: African Americans (AAs) are twice as likely to develop dementia than Whites, which may be driven by poorer dementia knowledge and lifestyle factors. This article provides the rationale and protocol for a pilot clinical trial examining a tailored multi-domain lifestyle modification intervention in middle-aged and older AAs. This study will explore the feasibility and efficacy of individualized Cognitive Prescriptions (CogRx) which target five domains: physical activity, cognitive activity, diet, sleep, and social activity.

Differential Associations Between BDNF and Memory Across Older Black and White Adults With HIV Disease.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) shows consistent associations with memory across many clinical populations, including dementia. Less is understood about the association between BDNF and memory functioning in people living with HIV (PWH).

Methods: A sample of 173 adults aged 50+ (n = 100 HIV+ and n = 73 HIV seronegative) completed a comprehensive neurobehavioral assessment and blood draw.

Driving habits, cognition, and health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older adults with HIV.

Cognitive impairment is known to increase with aging in people living with HIV (PLWH). Impairment in cognitive domains required for safe driving may put PLWH at risk for poor driving outcomes, decreased mobility, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study described the driving behaviors of middle-aged and older PLWH and examined correlations between driving behaviors and cognitive functioning (Aim 1), and driving behaviors and HRQoL domains (Aim 2).

Association between personality and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Background: Nearly half of adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), characterized by cognitive impairments in two or more cognitive domains, which can interfere with everyday functioning. Many factors are thought to influence such cognitive impairments in adults with HIV; one factor seldom examined is personality.

Objective: This study investigated the association between five major dimensions of personality (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) and cognitive function in older adults with HIV.

Examining the Acceptability of a Resilience Building Intervention Among Adults Aging With HIV.

Few interventions have targeted resilience resources in people living with HIV (PLWH). We tested the acceptability of an existing resilience intervention in middle-age and older PLWH. Fourteen PLWH attended one 3-hr group session, which included videos, quizzes, and written activities.