[HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)]

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are characterized by an insidious onset and a slowly progressive course and are observed in approximately 20-50% of people living with HIV. No disease-specific laboratory tests or neuroimaging findings exist for the diagnosis of HAND, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is considered the ideal diagnostic approach. Although antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of developing HAND, HIV is known to invade the central nervous system (CNS) early in the course of infection and establish a so-called "CNS reservoir." Consequently, therapeutic strategies that take the CNS reservoir into account are required.