---
title: "Interactions between betaine, insulin resistance, and cognitive impairment in people with and without HIV"
id: "frontiers-in-immunology-2-interactions-between-betaine-insulin-resistance-and-cognitive-impairment-in"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/frontiers-in-immunology-2-interactions-between-betaine-insulin-resistance-and-cognitive-impairment-in"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "Infectious Disease"
source_name: "Frontiers in Immunology"
source_url: "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1878678"
published_at: "2026-07-15T00:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Journal Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Interactions between betaine, insulin resistance, and cognitive impairment in people with and without HIV
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/frontiers-in-immunology-2-interactions-between-betaine-insulin-resistance-and-cognitive-impairment-in
- **Specialty:** [Infectious Disease](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/infectious-disease.md)
- **Primary Source:** Frontiers in Immunology
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1878678)
- **Published At:** 2026-07-15T00:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Journal Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
BackgroundMetabolic dysfunction and neurocognitive decline share inflammatory pathways that may be amplified in people with HIV (PWH). Prior studies suggest insulin resistance correlates with cognitive decline, while gut-related metabolites, such as betaine, may be protective through metabolic regulation and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated whether metabolic markers differentially associate with cognitive performance in PWH versus people without HIV (PWoH).MethodsWe enrolled 200 participants, equally stratified by HIV and diabetes mellitus status, into four groups of 50. All completed neuropsychological testing yielded demographically corrected global T-scores (higher indicates better performance). Biomarkers included GlycA, Diabetes Risk Index (DRI), Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance Index (LP-IR), branched-chain amino acids, and betaine. Multiple linear regression examined associations between metabolic markers and T-scores, adjusting for covariates.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 55.7 years (71.0% male). GlycA levels were higher in individuals with diabetes (p = 0.001). Higher DRI levels were associated with worse global T-scores (standardized β = -0.27, p = 0.009). Higher LP-IR was associated with worse cognitive performance in PWH, but not in PWoH (interaction p = 0.007).
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Frontiers in Immunology published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 15 Jul 2026. The item focuses on Interactions between betaine, insulin resistance, and cognitive impairment in people with and without HIV. Review the original article for the full source wording and details.
## Related Clinical Research

- [Temporal patterns of tuberculosis-associated hyperglycaemia and effects on treatment outcomes in n](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/plos-one-0-temporal-patterns-of-tuberculosis-associated-hyperglycaemia-and-its-effect-on.md)
- [Gestational diabetes prevalence and physiology in South African women with and without HIV — ORCHI](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-41841696.md) (DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgag111)
- [Walking pace vs. step count: Both linked to lower mortality risk](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/medical-news-today-0-walk-faster-or-walk-more-study-shows-both-pace-and-step-count-lower-death-risk.md)
- [Replacing animal fats with plant fats linked to lower mortality after nonmetastatic prostate cancer](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/medical-news-today-0-swapping-animal-fats-with-plant-fats-may-lower-risk-of-death-after-prostate.md)
- [Global access to diabetes medicines: TARGET-DM framework for targeted policy actions](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/nature-0-global-access-to-different-classes-of-diabetes-medicines-a-framework-for.md)

## Navigation
- [← Back to Infectious Disease Feed](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/infectious-disease.md)
- [← All Clinical Specialties](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed.md)
## Medical & Regulatory Disclaimer

> [!CAUTION]
> MedicHelpline content is structured for research, educational, and professional discovery purposes. It does not constitute individual medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
> Always verify dosing, contraindications, and regulatory alerts against official product labeling and primary regulatory sources before clinical decision-making.