Cognitive Intra-individual Variability in the Laboratory Is Associated With Greater Executive Dysfunction in the Daily Lives of Older Adults With HIV

Abstract

Background: Executive dysfunction, which is common among persons with HIV (PWH), can have an adverse impact on health behaviors and quality of life. Intra-individual variability (IIV) is a measure of within-person variability across cognitive tests that is higher in PWH and is thought to reflect cognitive dyscontrol. Objective: To assess whether cognitive IIV in the laboratory is associated with self-reported executive dysfunction in daily life among older PWH. Method: Participants included 71 PWH aged ≥50 years who completed six subtests from the Cogstate battery and two subscales from the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe; self-report version). Cognitive IIV was calculated from the Cogstate as the coefficient of variation derived from age-adjusted normative T scores. Results: Cognitive IIV as measured by the Cogstate showed a significant, positive, medium-sized association with current FrSBe ratings of executive dysfunction but not disinhibition. Conclusion: Higher cognitive IIV in the laboratory as measured by the Cogstate may be related to the expression of HIV-associated symptoms of executive dysfunction in daily life for older PWH.