Body mass index, inflammatory biomarkers and neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected persons. Issue 3 (16th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okafor, Chukwuemeka N.; Kelso, Natalie E.; Bryant, Vaughn; Burrell, Larry E.; Míguez, Maria Jose; Gongvatana, Assawin; Tashima, Karen T.; de la Monte, Suzanne; Cook, Robert L.; Cohen, Ronald A.
• Is Part Of: Psychology, health & medicine. Volume 22:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 289
• Page End: 302
• Publication Date: 2017-03-16
• Subjects: HIV -- cytokines -- inflammation -- body mass index -- neurocognition; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2016.1199887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-8506

Abstract

Abstract: To determine the relationships among body mass index (BMI), and HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and the potential mediating effects of inflammatory cytokines. Among the HIV-infected individuals ( N = 90) included in this study, obesity was associated with slower processing speed ( β = −.229, standard error (SE) = 2.15, p = .033), compared to participants with a normal BMI, after controlling for psychosocial and HIV clinical factors. Serum concentrations of the interleukin-16 (IL-16) cytokine were significantly associated with slowed processing speed ( β = −.235, SE = 1.62, p = .033) but did not mediate the relationship between obesity and processing speed These findings suggest that obesity may contribute to cognitive processing speed deficits in HIV-infected adults. Elevated concentrations of IL-16 are also associated with slowing, though the results suggest that obesity and IL-16 may exert independent effects.