Neurological complications of HIV/AIDS

Neurological complications are common in HIV disease. The spectrum of neurological disorders is broad and involves the central nervous system, or CNS (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system, or PNS (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, and related muscle). Neurological disorders related to HIV often result in reduced quality of life and shortened survival, especially in people with more advanced HIV disease. Nevertheless, some neurological conditions are mild, readily treatable, or reversible. Several have become less common since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). And, despite the fact that many anti-HIV drugs are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and penetrate the brain, recent data published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes support the claim that HAART can improve some neurocognitive functioning.