Reduced Working Memory is Associated with Heavier Alcohol Consumption History, Role Impairment and Executive Function Difficulties
- 7 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in AIDS and Behavior
- Vol. 25 (9), 2720-2727
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03170-7
Abstract
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.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH074368)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P01 AA19072, F31 AA024060, T32 AA025877)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (K23 DA039769)
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