| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: The relationship between midfrontal dendritic complexity and pre-agonal neuropsychological functioning in HIV. | | Authors: Marcotte TD, Heaton RK, Masliah E, Wiley C, Ellis R, Nelson J, Kelly M, Atkinson JH, McCutchan JA, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 1996 | | Publication: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society | | Volume: 2 Issue: Pages: 57 | | Abstract:Establishing a relationship between in vivo neuropsychological (NP) functioning and postmortem indicators of CNS damage in HIV patients has historically met with mixed results. This study examines the association between pre-agonal NP functioning and postmortem measurements of dendritic complexity in 12 subjects who completed an NP evaluation within 18 months of death. NP functioning in eight neurocognitive domains and the percentage of midfrontal cortex covered by dendrites was assessed. Significant correlations were found between dendritic complexity and performance on (1) measures of abstraction and perceptual-motor functioning, and (2) an index of global cognitive functioning. Results suggest that alterations in structure that occur prior to neuronal death may contribute significantly to the neurocognitive changes frequently seen with HIV patients. |
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