Home › Research › Prevention and risk
Cognitive impairment in older HIV-1-seropositive individuals: prevalence and potential mechanisms
Valcour VG, Shikuma CM, Watters MR, Sacktor NC.. AIDS (London, England), 2004-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Individuals over 50 years of age comprise 11% of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A higher prevalence of AIDS in older individuals has been reported in certain states including Hawaii (20%) and Florida (13%). Although life expectancy in individuals with AIDS has increased with advances in antiretroviral therapy, it is likely that there are health consequences both of long-term infection and chronic antiretroviral therapy. Given the general increase in neurological disorders with age and the relatively high prevalence of cognitive dysfunction associated with HIV itself, the risk of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) in this aging HIV-seropositive subgroup is of particular concern. Existing data suggest, but have not conclusively demonstrated, increased rates of HAD in older compared with younger seropositive individuals. Preliminary data from the Hawaii Aging with HIV Cohort, a prospective cohort study designed to address this issue definitively, are presented. Factors underlying this hypothesized susceptibility in older individuals are discussed, including a synergy among HAD and other dementias, the role of vascular co-pathology, HIV and age-related immunological changes, and detrimental neuroglial changes that limit the compensatory ability of the aging brain.
Key findings
- Given the general increase in neurological disorders with age and the relatively high prevalence of cognitive dysfunction associated with HIV itself, the risk of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) in this aging HIV-seropositive subgroup is of particular concern.
- Existing data suggest, but have not conclusively demonstrated, increased rates of HAD in older compared with younger seropositive individuals.
Why it matters
Existing data suggest, but have not conclusively shown, that older HIV-positive individuals may have higher rates of HIV-associated dementia than younger ones. Factors that may explain this susceptibility include interactions with other dementias, vascular co-pathology, age-related immune changes, and reduced compensatory ability of the aging brain.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (AIDS (London, England)) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | AIDS: journal h-index 267 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 171 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.1 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Ned Sacktor: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15075502) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200401001-00012
- PubMed: 15075502
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Valcour, V. G., Shikuma, C. M., Watters, M. R., & Sacktor, N. C. (2004). Cognitive impairment in older HIV-1-seropositive individuals: prevalence and potential mechanisms. AIDS (London, England). https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200401001-00012
Vancouver
Valcour VG, Shikuma CM, Watters MR, Sacktor NC. Cognitive impairment in older HIV-1-seropositive individuals: prevalence and potential mechanisms. AIDS (London, England). 2004. doi:10.1097/00002030-200401001-00012. PMID: 15075502.
BibTeX
@article{valcour2004-15075502,
author = {Valcour, V. G. and Shikuma, C. M. and Watters, M. R. and Sacktor, N. C.},
title = {{Cognitive impairment in older HIV-1-seropositive individuals: prevalence and potential mechanisms}},
journal = {AIDS (London, England)},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1097/00002030-200401001-00012},
pmid = {15075502},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200401001-00012}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
2 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.
Related studies in Prevention and risk
Also tagged “cognitive-function”
1,118 studies in the library carry the topic tag “cognitive-function”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,118 tagged studies.