Resting-state functional connectivity in HIV - Findings from the ENIGMA HIV working group
Aliaa Ibnidris1, Jonathan Ipser1, Talia M Nir2
1Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging
|March 5, 2026
Summary
Altered resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) within the Default Mode Network (DMN) may contribute to cognitive issues in people with HIV (PWH). Higher education and enhanced PCC-hippocampus connectivity correlated with better working memory in PWH.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Previous research links disrupted Default Mode Network (DMN) resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) to cognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH).
- Limited investigation exists on DMN connectivity with HIV-affected brain regions like the striatum and its cognitive correlates in PWH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in intra-DMN RSFC and DMN-striatal RSFC between PWH and HIV-negative controls (HC).
- To determine the association between DMN-related RSFC and cognitive performance in PWH.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) as the DMN's primary node.
- Calculated RSFC within the DMN and between the DMN and the striatum.
- Employed Analysis of Covariance for group comparisons and linear regression for cognitive associations.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in PCC-ROI RSFC were found between PWH and HC.
- In PWH, higher education was linked to better working memory.
- Greater RSFC between the PCC and the right hippocampus correlated with improved working memory performance in PWH.
Conclusions:
- Altered intra-DMN RSFC may play a role in the cognitive dysfunction observed in people with HIV.
- Findings highlight the potential impact of DMN connectivity on cognition in PWH.
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