brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
HIV Associated Dementia
Introduction
HIV-associated dementia is progressive deterioration in mental function due to infection of the brain with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unlike almost all other forms of dementia, HIV-associated dementia tends to occur in younger people. Usually, the dementia begins subtly but progresses steadily over a few months or years, typically after other symptoms of HIV infection develop. Doctors diagnose HIV-associated dementia based on symptoms, mental status testing, blood tests for HIV, and imaging tests. Treating HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy sometimes dramatically improves mental function but does not cure the dementia. (See also Overview of Delirium and Dementia and In the late stages of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection , the virus may directly infect the brain. HIV damages nerve cells, causing dementia. In people with HIV infection, dementia may also result from other disorders, including Overview of Lymphoma that affect the brain and infections that people with HIV infection are prone to get because their immune system is weakened. These infections are called opportunistic infections and include Unlike almost all other forms of dementia, HIV-associated dementia tends to occur in younger people. Dementia occurs in 7 to 27% people with late-stage HIV infection, but 30 to 40% may have milder forms of HIV-associated dementia. Dementia differs from Delirium , which is characterized by an inability to pay attention, disorientation, an inability to think clearly, and fluctuations in the level of alertness. Dementia affects mainly memory, and delirium affects mainly attention. Dementia typically begins gradually and has no definite beginning point. Delirium begins suddenly and often has a definite beginning point. 