# Evaluation of Neurobiological Mechanisms Mediating the Effect of Immune Activation on Neurocognitive Impairment and the Role of Psychosocial Factors Among Women Living with HIV

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2022 · $711,991

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT/SUMMARY. The proposed R01 is built upon the premise that: 1) Cognitive impairment
(CI) persists even in the context of HIV viral suppression; 2) women living with HIV (WLWH) experience
disproportionate burden of CI and have higher rates of, and stronger associations with, many of the underlying
biopsychosocial risk factors for CI, as well as unique sex-specific risk factors; 3) immune activation persists in
the context of viral suppression; 4) immune activation (e.g., Interleukin[IL]-6, sCD163) is a consistent risk factor
of CI in HIV; 5) neurobiological pathways affecting cognitive functions are activated by HIV directly and indirectly
through immune activation; 6) psychosocial factors such as stigma/discrimination, depression, and substance
use impair cognitive functions and are associated with heightened immune activation, likely both directly and
indirectly through reduced ART levels. By leveraging the strong infrastructure of the Women's Interagency
HIV Study (WIHS), including existing behavioral data and specimen, the current longitudinal study will
fill significant gaps in the field by examining the role of the neurobiological pathways whereby chronic
immune activation leads to CI phenotypes in a large phenotypically well-defined group of WLWH. In a
highly cost-effective approach, we will use existing biospecimen to assess biomarkers of chronic immune
activation and neurobiological pathways and link them to existing neuropsychological assessments among
N=500 WLWH aged 26 and older (Median age = 50) at 3 time points, to assess the following aims: Aim 1. To
examine neurobiological pathways mediating the link between chronic immune activation and CI phenotypes in
WLWH. Aim 2. To identify psychosocial factors affecting immune activation and neurobiological pathways. Aim
3. To examine the role of ART hair levels in mediating the effect of psychosocial factors in Aim 2 on immune
activation and neurobiological pathway biomarkers. Impact. The results of this study will have several important
clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of CI in WLWH, including behavioral and pharmacological
therapies. Understanding the unique impact of biomarkers on cognitive outcomes will provide guidance on
clinical intervention targets (e.g., immune therapy, dopamine reuptake inhibitors). Understanding the role of
psychosocial factors in modulating immune activation and neurobiological pathways and the mediating role of
ART adherence level, will inform behavioral intervention strategies (e.g., resilience, social support). Psychosocial
factors may be particularly ideal intervention targets to curb the inflammatory cascade leading to CI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10534423
- **Project number:** 1R01MH131177-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrea Norcini Pala
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $711,991
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-13 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10534423

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10534423, Evaluation of Neurobiological Mechanisms Mediating the Effect of Immune Activation on Neurocognitive Impairment and the Role of Psychosocial Factors Among Women Living with HIV (1R01MH131177-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10534423. Licensed CC0.

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