Abstract:The first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981, and neurological complications
were noted soon thereafter. This symposium reviews progress that
has taken place toward understanding the neurobiologic bases and consequences
of neuroAIDS in the 15 years since publication of the first study
that described the neuropsychology of HIV at various disease stages (Grant
et al., 1987). In his introductory comments the Symposium Organizer
(Grant) will overview the neuropsychological (NP) phenomenology of
HIV. The first paper (Cherner et al.) will describe the neural injury that has
been observed in the brains of those dying with HIV, and link these to ante
mortem NP changes in the same subjects to demonstrate that in-life NP
decline has discrete neuropathologic underpinnings. The second paper
(Taylor) reports on the combined insult of methamphetamine abuse and
HIV infection on brain function, from studies involving both NP and MR
spectroscopic methods. The third paper (Rivera-Mindt) demonstrates the
relationship between NP and HIV concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid,
which may serve as a window into CNS events. This paper also describes
the effects of antiviral treatments on both HIV concentration and NP. The
fourth paper (Heaton) links NP and virologic indicators to real life functioning,
including measures of activities of daily living and driving. The
discussants will critique the studies presented, and propose directions for
further research. Beyond providing attendees with new information on NP
of HIV, the symposium emphasizes a model of NP research that takes
advantage of multidisciplinary collaborations to illuminate the neurobiologic underpinnings, as well as the practical implications of NP observations,
both in terms of treatment and everyday functioning. |