Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection
08:48

A Rat Model of EcoHIV Brain Infection

Published on: January 21, 2021

3.8K

Executive function and processing speed in Brazilian HIV-infected children and adolescents

Vitor Geraldi Haase1, Nelsa Carol Nicolau2, Virgínia Nunes Viana3

  • 1Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Dementia & Neuropsychologia
|December 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Children with vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) show impaired executive function and processing speed. Antiretroviral therapy did not fully restore neuropsychological performance in these pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cognitive deficits are a known complication in vertically HIV-infected infants and children.
  • Early recognition of these disorders is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess neuropsychological performance in Brazilian children and adolescents with vertically acquired HIV.
  • To evaluate executive function and processing speed in this cohort undergoing antiretroviral therapy.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 41 vertically HIV-infected children and adolescents (ages 5-17) in Brazil was studied.
  • Participants were categorized into mildly symptomatic (CDC class A/B) and advanced disease (CDC class C) groups.
  • Neuropsychological tasks focused on executive function and processing speed, compared against typically developing controls.

Main Results:

  • HIV-infected children and adolescents performed significantly worse on neuropsychological tests compared to controls.
  • Motor and cognitive processing speed, along with executive function, were the most affected domains.
  • Individuals with advanced HIV disease showed lower performance and greater variability.

Conclusions:

  • Vertically HIV-infected children and adolescents experience significant neuropsychological impairments, particularly in processing speed and executive function.
  • While more pronounced in advanced disease stages, these deficits did not strictly correlate with CDC staging.
  • Antiretroviral therapy's impact on fully normalizing these cognitive functions requires further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
AIDSHIVexecutive functionneuropsychologyprocessing speed

More Related Videos

Using Brain Activation nir-HEG/Q-EEG and Execution Measures CPTs in a ADHD Assessment Protocol13:09

Using Brain Activation nir-HEG/Q-EEG and Execution Measures CPTs in a ADHD Assessment Protocol

Published on: April 1, 2018

11.0K
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

3.5K

Related Concept Videos

Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
613
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.0K
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
605
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
816
Measures of Intelligence01:29

Measures of Intelligence

Psychologists measure intelligence by using standardized tests that produce a score known as the intelligence quotient or IQ. To understand IQ tests, it's important to recognize the key principles behind their construction: validity, reliability, and standardization.
Validity refers to how well a test measures what it claims to measure. An intelligence test should accurately assess intelligence rather than another characteristic, like anxiety. Criterion validity is one way to evaluate this;...
8.6K