Cognitive reserve and neuropsychological functioning in patients infected with hepatitis C

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of cognitive reserve on neuropsychological test performance in 198 patients infected with the hepatitis C virus. IQ scores, educational level, and occupational rating were combined to calculate a Cognitive Reserve Score (CRS) for each patient. Similar to studies of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, there was a significantly increased risk of impairment in neuropsychological test performance in individuals with lower CRSs. It is important to account for CRS when assessing cognitive findings in large-scale clinical trials.