Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: CSF amyloid beta and tau do not predict mild HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Authors: Morgan EE, Woods SP, Moore DJ, Ellis RJ, Grant I, Letendre SL, and the HNRC Group
Year: 2010
Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Volume: 16 Issue: S1 Pages:
Abstract:Objective: Detection of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is increasingly important in the aging HIV infected population. Altered levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers traditionally used to detect the hallmarks of Alzheimers disease (AD), namely amyloid beta and total tau, have been observed neuropathologically in demented HIV+ individuals. However, it is unclear whether these biomarkers are also predictive of the highly prevalent milder forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. The current study examined selected biomarkers as predictors of global HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. Methods: 75 HIV+ individuals (mean age = 45.1, SD = 9.0, range = 18-79) were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological (NP) battery and a panel of biomarkers was collected, including CSF amyloid beta and total tau, and plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), an established biomarker of neuroAIDS. All analyses utilized a dichotomous outcome variable representing global cognition (impaired vs unimpaired). Thirty percent of the sample was NP impaired, and no participant met criteria for HIV-associated dementia based on case conference diagnoses. Results: Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine each biomarker as a predictor of global impairment with age, HAART status, current CD4 count, and the interaction of age and each biomarker concurrently modeled. Only plasma MCP-1 emerged as a significant predictor of global impairment, and no interactions between age and the biomarkers were observed. Conclusion: A marker of macrophage activation (i.e., MCP-1) predicted global neurocognitive impairment whereas traditional cortical dementia markers did not. Established neuroAIDS biomarkers such as MCP-1 may be more strongly associated with milder forms of HAND that are increasingly prevalent in the aging HIV+ population.

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