title: Cognitive decline in patients with symptomatic HIV-1 infection. No decline in asymptomatic infection.
abstract: Thirty-six HIV-1-infected predominantly well-functioning subjects were followed up for one year by repeated neuropsychological, clinical neurological, neuroradiological, and immunological examinations. Changes in cognitive performance related to the severity of HIV-1 infection as well as to neuroradiological or immunological changes were studied. A decline in cognitive speed and flexibility was found in symptomatic subjects (ARC, AIDS). The impairment was especially pronounced in patients with progression of brain atrophy. These findings suggest a brain pathology underlying the cognitive decline in ambulatory outpatients with symptomatic HIV-1 infection. A practice effect was found in asymptomatic subjects (ASX, LAS) and in those with unchanged CT/MRI scans. No systematic relationship was found between cognitive change and immunological change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poutiainen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elovaara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raininko
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilkki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lähdevirta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iivanainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales