eprintid: 26722
rev_number: 22
userid: 5095
dir: disk0/00/02/67/22
datestamp: 2016-06-29 18:39:38
lastmod: 2017-05-01 05:15:13
status_changed: 2016-06-29 18:39:38
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: jrtruebig@gmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Truebig, Janet
creators_email: jrtruebig@gmail.com
creators_id: JRT65
title: Prevalence of Neurocognitive Disorders and Potential Correlates in the Pitt Men’s Study Cohort
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_infectiousdiseasesmicrobiology
full_text_status: public
keywords: HIV neurocognitive MSM HAND
abstract: Background: While people living with HIV (PLWH) are able to enjoy relatively good health due to the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), some aging HIV-positive individuals have demonstrated neurocognitive impairments which are not associated with other comorbidities. This condition, classified as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), has a spectrum of severity consisting of asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), mild neurocognitive disorder (MND), and HIV-associated dementia (HAD).  
Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of neurocognitive disorders within the Pitt Men’s Study cohort, and identify correlating variables that could be potential risk factors for the disease.
Methods: The Pitt Men’s Study is a sub-cohort of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, and is a prospective study of gay and bisexual men. Neuropsychological impairment is diagnosed through the use of an algorithm developed by the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, which classifies disease based on an individual’s scores in a series of neuropsychological function tests. SAS Statistical Software 9.4 was utilized for data analysis. 
Results: There was no significant difference in frequency of neurocognitive disorders between HIV-negative and HIV-positive individuals. The rate of HAND in HIV-negative individuals was 31.89% while the rate in HIV-positive individuals was 31.82%. In individuals under 50 years old, ever having been infected with Hepatitis C virus was significantly higher in the neurocognitive disorder group than the normal group. 
Conclusion: There is no evidence of HAND in the PMS cohort; rates of neurocognitive disorder are higher in the HIV-negative group than expected. The only significant risk factor for neurocognitive disorder found in the cohort was Hepatitis C virus infection in individuals under 50 years old. 
Public Health Significance: Neurocognitive disorders have the potential to cause a reduction in quality of life. While there was no evidence of HAND in the PMS cohort, a large proportion of HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM demonstrate neurocognitive disorders. This study may indicate a high prevalence of neurocognitive disorders in MSM due to an unknown risk factor. Further investigation is critical to identify risk factors of neurocognitive disorders.
date: 2016-06-29
date_type: published
pages: 52
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: thesis_advisor
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Martinson, Jeremy J
etdcommittee_name: Friedman, Mackey
etdcommittee_name: Stall, Ron
etdcommittee_email: jmartins@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: mrf9@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: rstall@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: JMARTINS
etdcommittee_id: MRF9
etdcommittee_id: RSTALL
etd_defense_date: 2016-04-11
etd_approval_date: 2016-06-29
etd_submission_date: 2016-04-01
etd_release_date: 2016-06-29
etd_access_restriction: 1_year
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
citation:   Truebig, Janet  (2016) Prevalence of Neurocognitive Disorders and Potential Correlates in the Pitt Men’s Study Cohort.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/26722/1/Truebig_Thesis04_2016.pdf