Effects of HIV Seropositivity and Drug Abuse on Cognitive Function

• Published in: European neurology Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 48 - 52
• Main Authors: Grassi, M.P., Perin, C., Clerici, F., Zocchetti, C., Borella, M., Cargnel, A., Mangoni, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.1997; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS Dementia Complex - diagnosis; AIDS Dementia Complex - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Female; HIV Seropositivity - diagnosis; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Neuropsychological Tests; Original Paper; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Cognitive function; AIDS; AIDS dementia complex; Human; Immunopathology; Drug addiction; Nervous system diseases; Cognitive disorder; Neuropsychological test; Exploration; Immune deficiency; Cerebral disorder; Infection; Clinical stage; Viral disease; Central nervous system disease; Early; AIDS related complex; Dementia
• ISSN: 0014-3022; 1421-9913
• DOI: 10.1159/000117405

Fifty-eight HIV-positive drug abusers and 22 HIV-positive nondrug abusers at stages II-III and IV of the Centers for Disease Control classification were evaluated neuropsychologically. The study confirmed previous findings that drug abuse has a negative influence on cognitive function. It also emerges that seropositivity affects cognitive function, although the poor performance of group II-III patients compared to group IV may be explained by factors related to seropositivity (anxiety and panic) rather than the disease itself. It is concluded that disease-related factors probably determine cognitive performance in the earlier stages of HIV infection.