| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Poster | | Title: Grit as a protective factor for optimizing cognitive and everyday functioning among adults living with HIV. | | Authors: Moore R, Hussain M, Watson C, Fazeli P, Marquine M, Yarns B, Jeste D, Moore D | | Date: 10-02-2017 | | Abstract:Background: Cognitive reserve is known to modulate symptoms of brain disease among persons living with HIV (PLWH), yet little is known about the impact of psychological reserve factors on neurocognitive outcomes. Perseverance and passion for long-term goals, known as grit, is a psychological factor that may protect neurocognitive function among persons living with HIV. Our objective was to determine the association between grit, cognitive reserve, and current neurocognitive and everyday functioning among individuals with and without HIV infection.
Methods: One hundred twenty persons living with HIV (PLWH) and 94 persons without HIV (HIV-) enrolled in the NIMH-funded Multi-dimensional Successful Aging among HIV-infected Individuals study completed the Grit Scale, which includes a total score and three subscales: consistency of interests, perseverance of effort, and ambition. Participants also completed a measure of cognitive reserve, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery assessing global neurocognitive functioning, and an assessment of daily functioning.
Results: PLWH had lower grit total scores (p<0.001), and lower grit consistency of interests (p<0.001) and perseverance of efforts (p<0.01), than persons without HIV. No relationship was observed between grit and neurocognition among individuals without HIV infection. Among PLWH, however, higher scores on grit subscales of perseverance of efforts and ambition were related to better global neurocognitive functioning, which remained after controlling for a measure of cognitive reserve and relevant clinical covariates, including HIV disease characteristics and Major Depressive Disorder (perseverance of effort: p=0.02; ambition: p<0.01). Higher grit was also related to independence in daily functioning among PLWH.
Conclusions: A significant positive association between higher grit scores and better neurocognitive and everyday functioning was observed among PLWH. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate these grit-neurocognitive/everyday functioning relationships over time and examine whether grit is a psychological reserve factor that provides a protective effect for neurocognitive and everyday outcomes among those living and aging with HIV. |
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