Social Engagement and Neurocognition in Latino and Non-Latino White Older Persons with HIV

The present study investigated differences in the quantity and quality of social engagement, and their associations with neurocognition among older Latino and non-Latino White persons with HIV (PWH). Participants were age 50 + community-dwelling PWH living in southern California (n = 116; 50% Latino [53% Spanish-speaking], 50% non-Latino White; Age: M = 58.03; Education: M = 13.29; 82% male; 58% AIDS; 95% on antiretroviral therapy). Neurocognition was assessed with a battery of 10 tests on which demographically-adjusted T-scores were derived. Social engagement was measured via self-report of frequency of participation in social activities over the past year (quantitative) and feelings and perceptions of loneliness (qualitative). There were few ethnic differences in degree of participation in social activities, but Latino PWH reported lower loneliness. Social activity and loneliness were significantly associated with processing speed in the overall sample, and with global neurocognition only in White PWH. Latino PWH reported better quality of social engagement than non-Latino White PWH despite small ethnic differences in quantity of social engagement. Social engagement was associated with better neurocognition primarily in older White PWH. Given documented HIV disparities in neurocognition, future studies should investigate HIV-related comorbidities and structural determinants of health as potential determinants of neurocognition among older Latino PWH.