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Updated: May 18, 2026

Quantification of Cerebral Vascular Architecture using Two-photon Microscopy in a Mouse Model of HIV-induced Neuroinflammation
10:04

Quantification of Cerebral Vascular Architecture using Two-photon Microscopy in a Mouse Model of HIV-induced Neuroinflammation

Published on: January 12, 2016

Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness are associated with lower cognitive performance in

M Fabbiani1, N Ciccarelli, M Tana

  • 1Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. massifab@alice.it

HIV Medicine
|September 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic issues like diabetes and hypertension, along with common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), are linked to lower cognitive performance in HIV patients. These factors may contribute to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • HIV infection can impact cognitive function.
  • Metabolic comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors are common in HIV patients.
  • The role of common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between metabolic comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors, and cIMT with cognitive performance in HIV-infected patients.
  • To assess the prevalence of these factors in an asymptomatic HIV-infected population.
  • To identify potential contributors to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Enrolled 245 asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects.
  • Assessed metabolic comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Measured cIMT using ultrasonography and evaluated cognitive performance via a global cognitive impairment (GCI) score.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of dyslipidemia (61.2%), smoking (54.3%), and hypertension (15.1%).
  • Abnormal cIMT (≥ 0.9mm) found in 31.8% of patients.
  • Diabetes, hypertension, and cIMT ≥ 0.9 mm were associated with lower cognitive performance (higher GCI scores).
  • Diabetes and cIMT ≥ 0.9 mm independently predicted lower cognitive performance.
  • Abacavir use was linked to better cognitive performance in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Conclusions:

  • Metabolic comorbidities and cIMT are strongly associated with reduced cognitive performance in HIV patients.
  • These findings suggest metabolic factors play a significant role in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
  • Further research into managing these comorbidities may improve cognitive outcomes in HIV care.
Abstract

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