title: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
abstract: Currently, neuropsychological impairment among HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy leads to a reduction in the quality of life and it is an important challenge due to the high prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and its concomitant consequences in relation to morbidity and mortality- including those HIV+ patients with adequate immunological and virological status. The fact that the virus is established in CNS in the early stages and its persistence within the CNS can help us to understand HIV-related brain injury even when highly active antiretroviral therapy is effective. The rising interest in HIV associated neurocognitive disorders has let to development new diagnostic tools, improvement of the neuropsychological tests, and the use of new biomarkers and new neuroimaging techniques that can help the diagnosis. Standardization and homogenization of neurocognitive tests as well as normalizing and simplification of easily accessible tools that can identify patients with increased risk of cognitive impairment represent an urgent requirement. Future efforts should also focus on diagnostic keys and searching for useful strategies in order to decrease HIV neurotoxicity within the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Medicina Interna, Unitat VIH/Sida, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Pl.Dr.Robert, 5, 088221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain ; Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanmarti
authors.affiliation: Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.affiliation: Servei de Neurologia, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huertas
authors.affiliation: Servei de Neurologia, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Badenes
authors.affiliation: Servei de Medicina Interna, Unitat VIH/Sida, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Pl.Dr.Robert, 5, 088221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain ; Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slevin
authors.affiliation: Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain ; Servei de Neurologia, Hospital Universitari MútuaTerrassa, Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krupinski
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Aurel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popa-Wagner
authors.affiliation: Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaen
keywords: HAND; HIV; Neurocognitive disorders