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Reduced Working Memory is Associated with Heavier Alcohol Consumption History, Role Impairment and Executive Function Difficulties

AIDS and Behavior volume 25, pages 2720–2727 (2021)Cite this article

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.

Resumen

Tanto el estado del VIH como el consumo excesivo de alcohol se han asociado con una función cognitiva reducida, particularmente en los dominios de la memoria de trabajo y la función ejecutiva. No está claro qué aspectos de la memoria de trabajo y la función ejecutiva están asociados con el estado del VIH y el consumo excesivo de alcohol y si el desempeño en estas medidas está asociado con un deterioro funcional. Examinamos la relación entre el VIH, el historial de consumo excesivo de alcohol y la interacción VIH / alcohol, en pruebas aceleradas de capacidades inhibitorias frontales, tareas de memoria de trabajo relacionadas con la manipulación mental de letras y números, flexibilidad cognitiva y medidas de deterioro funcional. Los participantes del estudio incluyeron 284 personas (151 VIH +) reclutadas de dos estudios diferentes que se centran en la disfunción cerebral asociada al VIH, uno específico de los efectos del alcohol y el otro específico de los efectos del envejecimiento. El estado del VIH no se asoció de forma independiente con las medidas de memoria de trabajo y función ejecutiva. Un mayor nivel de consumo de alcohol se asoció con un rendimiento reducido en la secuenciación de números de letras. Un desempeño deficiente en la secuenciación de números de letras se asoció con un deterioro de los roles (una incapacidad para realizar ciertos tipos de trabajo, tareas domésticas o escolares) y dificultades en las funciones ejecutivas. Los estudios futuros deben examinar las asociaciones causales y las intervenciones dirigidas a las capacidades de la memoria de trabajo.

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Funding

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; R01MH074368; Recipient-Cohen), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; P01AA19072; Recipient-Cohen), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; U01AA020797; Recipient-Cook),  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; F31AA024060; Recipient—Bryant), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; T32AA025877; Recipient—Cook), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; K23DA039769; Recipient—Ennis), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; K01AA025306; Recipient-Porges).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, 2055 Mowry Road, P.O. Box 100009, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Vaughn E. Bryant, Robert L. Cook & Carolyn Bradley

  2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32607, USA

    Vaughn E. Bryant, Mark K. Britton, Joseph M. Gullett, Eric C. Porges, Adam J. Woods, John Williamson & Ronald A. Cohen

  3. Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University, 2010 Levy Ave, Suite 254, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA

    Nicole Ennis

  4. National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 6700B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-6902, USA

    Kendall J. Bryant

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  1. Vaughn E. Bryant
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data analysis was conducted by VB. The first draft of the manuscript was written by VB. Review and editing was conducted by all other authors. Additionally, all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Vaughn E. Bryant.

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Bryant, V.E., Britton, M.K., Gullett, J.M. et al. Reduced Working Memory is Associated with Heavier Alcohol Consumption History, Role Impairment and Executive Function Difficulties. AIDS Behav 25, 2720–2727 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03170-7

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Keywords

  • HIV
  • Alcohol
  • Working
  • Memory
  • Executive
  • Function
  • Role
  • Impairment