Lithium improves HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Virology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (HIV-ANI) affects a significant portion of individuals living with HIV.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the incidence of severe HIV-ANI but has not eliminated milder forms.
• Existing treatments for HIV-ANI are limited, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of low-dose oral lithium in improving neuropsychological performance in adults with HIV-ANI.
• To assess the safety and tolerability of lithium treatment in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week, single-arm, open-label pilot study was conducted.
• Eight adults with HIV-ANI on stable ART were enrolled and received titrated oral lithium.
• Neuropsychological performance was assessed using the global deficit score.

Main Results:

• All participants showed improvement in global neuropsychological performance after 12 weeks of lithium treatment.
• Six out of eight participants achieved unimpaired cognitive status.
• Lithium treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe adverse events or study discontinuations.

Conclusions:

• Low-dose oral lithium demonstrated a positive effect on neuropsychological performance in individuals with HIV-ANI.
• The findings suggest lithium may be a potential therapeutic option for managing cognitive deficits in HIV.
• Further research, including larger controlled trials, is warranted to confirm these preliminary results.