Neurocognitive impairment associated with predominantly early stage HIV infection in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Detailed neuropsychological testing was performed on 134 HIV seropositive (SP) and 77 HIV seronegative (SN) individuals, 86% with early stage HIV infection in Nigeria, to determine the frequency of HIV-related neurocognitive impairment among the HIV-infected group. Twenty-two tests were administered to assess the following seven ability domains: speed of information processing (SIP); attention/working memory (AWM); executive functioning (EF); learning (LN); memory (MEM); verbal fluency (VF); and motor speed/dexterity (MSD). Demographically corrected individual test scores and scores for each domain or reflecting a global deficit (a global deficit score, or GDS) were compared for the SP and SN groups. SP participants were older, had fewer years of education, were more likely to be married, differed in ethnicity and had higher depression scores than SN individuals. On the testing, SP performed worse than SN on four tests that individually assessed LN, VF and MSD (the timed gait). SP subjects, however, performed better than SN on the finger-tapping test, also a motor task. Within the seven ability domains, SP performed worse than SN with respect to SIP, EF, LN, MEM and VF and also on the global measure. SP were also more frequently impaired on tests of SIP, and there was a borderline increase in the frequency of global impairment. Performance by SP subjects was not associated with CD4 counts. However, there were significant correlations between viral load measurements and individual tests of SIP, EF, LN and VF and with overall EF and a borderline correlation with the GDS. Depression scores for SP were associated with impairment on only a single test of EF. These results demonstrate that the ability of these assessments to identify areas of impairment that may be specifically linked to a history of HIV infection among individuals in Nigeria. Confirmation of these findings awaits analyses using data from a larger number of control subjects.

Physical function, grip strength and frailty in people living with HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa: systematic review

“…Clinical data characterizing the samples were scarcely reported. While three studies revealed no difference in gait speed between PLHIV naïve or mixed (treated/untreated) and uninfected adults in Uganda , two studies from Nigeria showed a lower gait speed among PLHIV naïve or treated in comparison with those uninfected . No information is available on balance.…”

Plasma HIV RNA level is associated with neurocognitive function among HIV-1-infected patients in Nigeria

“…Details of these are described in our other reports (Akolo et al 2014; Royal et al 2016; Jumare et al 2017). Participants were screened for effort using the Hiscock Digit Memory Test, and for depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al 1996).…”

Peripheral blood lymphocyte HIV DNA levels correlate with HIV associated neurocognitive disorders in Nigeria

“…Details of these are described in our other reports (Akolo et al 2014; Royal et al 2016). In brief, the following ability domains and individual tests within the domains were examined: speed of information processing (WAIS-III Digit Symbol, WAIS-III Symbol Search, Color Trails Test 1 and Trail Making Test A); attention/working memory (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task, and WMS-III Spatial Span); executive function (Color Trails Test 2 and Stroop Color and Word Test), learning (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised [HVLT-R] total learning and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised [BVMT-R] total learning); memory (HVLT-R delayed recall; BVMT-R delayed recall); verbal fluency (Letter (Word Sound Fluency; Category Fluency: Nouns (animals) and Category Fluency: Verbs [actions]); motor speed and dexterity (Grooved Pegboard Test, Finger Tapping Test and Timed Gait).…”