Cognitive Performance and Neuro-Metabolites in HIV Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Cross-Sectional Study...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Cognitive impairment in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is linked to increased morbidity.
• The prevalence of brain metabolite changes associated with cognitive impairment in ART-naïve HIV patients is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of neurometabolites linked to cognitive impairment in ART-naïve HIV patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted on 43 ART-naïve HIV patients (aged 18-50) in India.
• Cognition was assessed using the Post Graduate Institute battery, evaluating memory, attention, executive function, perceptual skills, and motor skills.
• Brain metabolites (tNAA, tCr, Glx) were measured using 3T magnetic resonance spectroscopy; cognitive impairment was defined as impairment in ≥2 domains.

Main Results:

• Over half (51.2%) of the participants had cognitive impairment, with deficits most common in simple motor skills (46.5%) and memory (44%).
• While trends suggested higher frontal lobe concentrations of tNAA, tGlx, and tCr in those with cognitive impairment, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).
• No significant differences in metabolite concentrations were observed in the basal ganglia between groups.

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of cognitive impairment exists in ART-naïve HIV patients.
• No significant differences in measured brain metabolites were found between HIV patients with or without cognitive impairment.
• Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in this population.