Link found between stigma, cognitive performance in people with HIV
Stigma related to human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) impairs cognition in men living with the condition, finds a study. The findings of the McGill University study have been published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The participants filled out a questionnaire asking how much stigma they experience. Their answers were related to their results in cognitive testing and mental health questionnaires. Researchers found that HIV-related stigma had direct effects on cognitive test performance and anxiety. There was also a direct but weaker link between stigma and depression. Through its effects on cognition, stigma was found to reduce participation in social activities and impair function in everyday life. This study is the first to draw a direct connection between stigma and cognitive performance in people with HIV. The mechanisms through which stigma affects cognition are unclear, but might range from the impact of chronic stress on the brain, t