# Family history of dementia and APOE e4 status predict neurocognitive trajectories among persons with HIV

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $38,965

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
With the introduction of highly-active antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV (PWH) are living longer and the
proportion of middle-older age PWH continues to rise. Advancing age is associated with an increased risk of
age-related neurogenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. Both chronic HIV and aging are
associated with cognitive deficits beyond the expectations of normal aging. Comorbidities are also elevated in
older PWH which may additionally increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases. As such, it is imperative to
focus research efforts on investigating pre-determined risk factors of neurocognitive impairment among PWH.
Neurodegenerative diseases are considered to be partially inherited. In fact, the apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4)
allele increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with
poorer neurocognitive outcomes. Furthermore, HIV-uninfected (HIV-) adults with a family history of dementia
(FHD), considered a proxy for genetic markers of dementia, are at a higher risk for developing dementia and
long-term cognitive decline compared to those without FHD. We have shown that FHD may be a risk factor for
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders as persons with FHD have significantly worse global neurocognitive
function compared to those without FHD. Nevertheless, these cross-sectional data do not address the potential
additive effect of FHD and APOE e4 on rate of global and domain-specific neurocognitive decline among older
PWH. Assessing the relationships between FHD, APOE e4 and neurocognitive decline is critical toward
identifying risk and neuroprotective factors among the vulnerable population of older PWH. Accordingly, the
proposed F31 project will follow-up on the initial cross-sectional examination of FHD and neurocognition in
order to: 1) determine whether FHD among first- and second-degree relatives and APOE e4 status are
associated with worse global- and domain-specific neurocognition in middle-to-older age PWH; 2) determine
whether FHD and APOE e4 status predict neurocognitive trajectories; and 3) explore potential effects of
demographic, neuropsychiatric, substance use, daily functioning, comorbidities, and HIV disease
characteristics on neurocognitive trajectories by FHD and APOE-e4 status. The proposed research will use
cross-sectional and longitudinal archival data of middle-to-older PWH from the Multi-Dimensional Successful
Aging Among HIV-Infected Adults and CNS HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research programs. The
opportunities afforded via this F31 mechanism will facilitate the applicant’s professional development toward
becoming an independent academic neuropsychologist dedicated to promoting neurocognitive resilience
among older PWH.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10327232
- **Project number:** 1F31AG074838-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Maulika Kohli
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $38,965
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10327232

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10327232, Family history of dementia and APOE e4 status predict neurocognitive trajectories among persons with HIV (1F31AG074838-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10327232. Licensed CC0.

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