Frailty Characteristics in Chronic HIV Patients are Markers of White Matter Atrophy Independently of Age and Depressive Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Background: Chronic HIV disease is associated with neurocognitive impairment and age-related conditions such as frailty. Objective: To determine whether regional brain volumetric changes correlate with frailty parameters in older ("e 40 years) HIV+ patients on stable combination antiretroviral therapy. Method: Thirty-five HIV-infected participants in the Hawaii Aging with HIV Cohort - Cardiovascular Disease study underwent T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging, frailty assessment and neuropsychological testing. Five physical frailty traits were assessed: low physical activity; exhaustion; unintentional weight loss; weak hand grip strength; slow walking speed. Linear regression quantified cross-sectional relationships of 12 brain regions to walking times and hand grip strength. Results: