Extrapyramidal motor signs in older adults with HIV disease: frequency, 1-year course, and associations with activities of daily living and quality of life

Age and HIV disease have additive effects on neural systems that support motor functioning. The current study examined the combined impact of aging and HIV on extrapyramidal motor functions, which were hypothesized to influence on activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QoL). Participants included 336 adults classified by HIV serostatus and age. A research nurse administered the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and participants completed the modified Lawton & Brody ADL and the Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36) questionnaires as part of a larger neuropsychological research battery. A convenience subset of 172 participants completed a 14-month follow-up evaluation. At baseline, only older age was associated with mild extrapyramidal signs; however, at 14-month follow-up, independent adverse effects of both HIV status and age group were observed on a 3-level UPDRS change variable. Among older HIV+ adults, the presence of mild UPDRS motor signs was independently associated with basic and instrumental ADL dependence, as well as lower physical (ps < .05), but not mental QoL. In the modern treatment era, older HIV+ adults show higher frequency of mild extrapyramidal signs as compared to younger individuals (but not older HIV− persons) and are at higher risk of incident extrapyramidal signs relative to HIV− persons (but not younger HIV+ persons). When present in older HIV+ adults, extrapyramidal signs are of mild severity but nevertheless increase the risk of daily functioning problems and lower health-related physical QoL.