Cognitive function in early HIV infection

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases
• Psychology

Background:

• Acute/early Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can lead to significant neuroinflammation and viral invasion of the brain.
• Understanding the early trajectory of cognitive function in HIV is crucial for timely neuroprotective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive function changes in individuals with acute/early HIV infection over a two-year period.
• To compare cognitive performance between HIV-positive and seronegative individuals.
• To explore the relationship between clinical markers of HIV disease and cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 56 HIV-positive and 21 seronegative participants were assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological tests at baseline and 2-year follow-up.
• Statistical analyses included t tests and mixed-effect models to compare cognitive performance between groups.
• Spearman's correlations were used to examine relationships between cognitive function and clinical status markers.

Main Results:

• HIV-positive individuals showed significantly poorer performance in verbal memory, visual memory, psychomotor speed, motor speed, and executive function at baseline and follow-up.
• No significant difference in the rate of cognitive decline was observed between HIV-positive and seronegative groups over two years.
• Weaker cognitive performance was associated with increased disease burden in HIV-positive individuals.

Conclusions:

• Neurocognitive deficits associated with HIV infection may manifest very early, potentially during the acute phase.
• These deficits likely result from initial viral invasion and neuroinflammation during uncontrolled viremia.
• Further research into early-stage HIV infection and neuroprotection strategies is warranted.