Gray matter (GM) atrophy is frequently detected in persons living with HIV, even in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), but the specificity of regions affected remains elusive. For instance, which regions are consistently affected in HIV? In addition, atrophy at which regions is frequently associated with neurocognitive impairment in HIV? Resolving these questions can potentially help to establish the possible neural profiles of HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) severity, which currently is solely defined by neurobehavioral assessments. Here, we addressed these questions using a novel meta‐analysis technique, the colocalization‐likelihood estimation (CLE) technique, to quantitatively synthesize the findings of GM atrophy in HIV+ adults. Twenty‐one of 386 studies published between 1988 and November 2017 and identified in PubMed were selected, plus four identified in other resources. In the end, 25 studies (1,370 HIV+ adults, 889 HIV− controls) were included in the meta‐analysis. This technique revealed that GM atrophy in HIV+ adults was dominated by two distinct but nonexclusive profiles: frontal (including anterior cingulate cortex, [ACC]) atrophy, which was associated withHIV‐disease and consistently differentiated HIV+ adults from HIV− controls; and caudate/striatum atrophy, which was associated with neurocognitive impairment. The critical role of caudate/striatum atrophy in neurocognitive impairment was further supported by a separate data analysis, which examined the findings of correlation analyses between GM and neurocognitive performance. These results suggest that the frontal lobe and the striatum play critical but differential roles in HAND. A neural model of HAND severity was proposed with several testable predictions.

Self-perceived creativity and participation in a serious leisure activity have been associated with multiple benefits for middle-aged and older adults, including having fewer depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which the psychological benefits gained from participating in one form of serious leisure activity, a creative hobby, may act as a buffer against depression. Additionally, the study investigated whether that buffering effect went beyond that of age and thinking of oneself as an overall creative person. A total of 268 participants, all of whom reported they were 40 years old or over, completed self-report measures including the Scale of Creative Attributes and Behavior (SCAB; used to measure self-perceived creativity), the Creative Benefits Scale (CBS; used to measure psychological benefits that people may experience as a result of long-term participation in a creative hobby), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; measuring depressive symptoms). A hierarchical regression of depressive symptoms was conducted with age in Step 1, the SCAB total score in Step 2, and the four subscales of the CBS in Step 3. The CBS was related to lower depressive symptoms, even after age and the SCAB total score were entered. However, the relationship between the CBS and depressive symptoms was driven by mainly one subscale, Recognition. These findings suggest that, for middle-aged and older adults, receiving recognition from others for their creative hobby may provide a greater buffer to depression than do age and self-perceived creativity.

Creative hobbies have been found to be beneficial for mental health, especially if an individual considers their hobby an important part of their identity (Adams-Price & Morse, 2018). Although receiving recognition from friends or family for one’s creative abilities has been seen to decrease depressive symptoms for adults, these benefits may depend on expectations and type of recognition desired (Israel et al, 2020). Those who participate in creative activities as a career compared to those who participate as hobbyist may not receive the same benefits due to the stress artists endure trying to earn a living (Barker et al, 2009). This study aimed to explore the relationships between hobby recognition, hobby’s impact on identity, and mental well-being. A sample of 279 primarily white (88%) female (95.3%) adults aged 40 to 84 (M = 59.9-years-old) were interviewed during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A structural equation model was developed in AMOS 28.0 to correlate these variables and do a multiple groups analysis, comparing 100 older adults (65+) and 179 middle aged adults (40-64) who all reported at least one creative hobby. Results found a negative relationship between identifying with a creative hobby and receiving recognition for the hobby, a negative relationship between mental well-being and recognition, and a positive relationship between identifying with one’s hobby and mental well-being. The results suggest that recognition from others may have mixed effects on mental health but identifying with one’s creative hobby may be a protective factor. Implications expectations of recognition will be discussed.

Older adults are generally happier, less likely to have depression or anxiety, and have better emotion regulation abilities than earlier in life. While older age predicts more hostile beliefs about others, older adults report less hostile behavior and no difference in covert hostility, compared to other age groups. However, brain regions associated with executive function and emotion regulation are impacted by even normal aging. Using latent profile analysis (LPA) we aimed to better understand what factors contribute to a dysregulated profile in older adults and how age altered the dysregulation profile. The current archival study includes data from 518 older adults between the ages of 60 and 95 years (M = 70.73, SD = 7.34). Participants completed the Coolidge Axis II Inventory (CATI) database. The CATI is a 250-item psychopathology and neuropsychological inventory that assesses over 40 clinical and neuropsychological disorders utilizing official DSM-5 criteria. A Dysregulated Profile was identified using an LPA of diagnosis subscales (i.e., Anxiety, Depression, Anger, and ADHD) that have been previously associated with dysregulation in children and young adults. Results demonstrated that female participants reported more ADHD symptoms (more impairment in executive function) than men. Furthermore, the dysregulated profile (high on all subscales) and age interacted such that, as age increased, scores on the Depression and Anger subscales decreased. No significant differences were found for any other interactions. Our findings are consistent with existing literature. Even in the dysregulated profile, participants reported less anger and depression with older age.