Open AccessReduced Working Memory is Associated with Heavier Alcohol Consumption History, Role Impairment and Executive Function Difficulties
Author(s) -
Vaughn Bryant,
Mark K Britton,
Joseph M. Gullett,
Eric C. Porges,
Adam J. Woods,
Robert L. Cook,
John B. Williamson,
Nicole Ennis,
Kendall Bryant,
Carolyn Bradley,
Ronald A. Cohen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aids and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.994
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1573-3254
pISSN - 1090-7165
DOI - 10.1007/s10461-021-03170-7
Subject(s) - working memory , executive functions , cognitive flexibility , psychology , cognition , executive dysfunction , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , neuropsychology , family medicine
Both HIV status and heavy alcohol use have been associated with reduced cognitive function, particularly in the domains of working memory and executive function. It is unclear what aspects of working memory and executive function are associated with HIV status and heavy alcohol use and whether performance on these measures are associated with functional impairment. We examined the relationship between HIV, history of heavy alcohol consumption, and HIV/alcohol interaction on speeded tests of frontal inhibitory abilities, a working memory task related to mental manipulation of letters and numbers, cognitive flexibility, and measures of functional impairment. Study participants included 284 individuals (151 HIV +) recruited from two different studies focusing on HIV associated brain dysfunction, one specific to the effects of alcohol, the other specific to the effects of aging. HIV status was not independently associated with working memory and executive function measures. Higher level of alcohol consumption was associated with reduced performance on Letter Number Sequencing. Poorer Letter Number Sequencing performance was associated with role impairment (an inability to do certain kinds of work, housework, or schoolwork) and executive function difficulties. Future studies should examine causal associations and interventions targeting working memory abilities.