The inflammatory degenerative continuum of HIV related cognitive impairment

Abstract

This thesis is the result of three years of research from January 2011 to December 2013 examining the role of cognition in HIV infection in an Irish specialist HIV service. This had not previously been examined in Ireland. Four studies were undertaken which were all linked. The first examined the prevalence of a positive screen for cognitive impairment. The second examined the cognitive profile of HAND in Ireland in the post highly active anti-retroviral therapy era. The third study investigated the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of HAND with voxel based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The final study explored the immunological, inflammatory and degenerative biomarkers of HAND in cerebrospinal fluid. All of the studies were cross-sectional in nature.