Cognitive development in school-age children with vertically transmitted HIV infection.
We examined a broad range of neuropsychological functioning in school-age children with vertically transmitted HIV infection and a control group made up of siblings of children with HIV infection. Fourteen children with HIV (2 asymptomatic, 8 mildly symptomatic, and 4 with AIDS) and 11 control children were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests assessing intelligence, receptive language, expressive language, visual and verbal memory, visual-motor speed and coordination, visual-motor and visual-spatial processing, fine motor skill, and academic achievement. Results revealed that school-age children with vertically transmitted HIV infection show many areas of cognitive function within the normal range. Despite normal cognitive development, subtle motor impairments were documented in children with vertically transmitted HIV infection. Our results are the first report of fine motor and motor strength deficits in school-age children with vertically transmitted HIV. Lastly, computed tomography (CT) results suggest that children with HIV who have documented structural anomalies in the brain may be at risk for deficits in visual-motor and visual-spatial processing. This finding should be explored with larger samples and other measures to determine its generalizability.
Blanchette
Nicholas
N
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada.
Smith
Mary Lou
ML
King
Susan
S
Fernandes-Penney
Alda
A
Read
Stanley
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014796:Visual Perception