Brain activity in well-controlled perinatally HIV-infected young adults: a fMRI pilot study

• Published in: Revista de neurologiá Vol. 72; no. 10; pp. 343 - 351
• Main Authors: Martín Bejarano-García, M, Ruiz-Sáez, B, Zamora, B, Martínez de Aragón, A, García-Navarro, C, Jiménez-de Ory, S, Velo, C, Ramos, J T, Sainz, T, Escosa, L, Núñez-Enamorado, N, Stephan-Otto, C, Navarro, M L, González-Tomé, M I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 16-05-2021
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - physiopathology; HIV Infections - therapy; HIV Infections - transmission; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1576-6578
• DOI: 10.33588/rn.7210.2020536

Perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (PHIV) is considered a chronic disease that has highlighted several cognitive deficits. From birth to early adulthood, cognition is known to play a fundamental role. However, although neurocognitive processes associated with PHIV have been extensively described by psychometric testing, data is scarce on neural activity from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which provides in vivo physiological information.
We studied described impaired cognitive processes using fMRI on a group of PHIV adolescents with good immunovirological indications and healthy matched controls. Psychological status and neurocognitive functions were also assessed.
There were no significant differences between HIV+ and HIV- groups, either on neurocognitive testing nor in fMRI activity for phonological fluency tasks. Prolonged duration of cART was positively associated with greater brain activity in left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) which could indicate functional compensation.
These results suggest that neural activity through fMRI in PHIV adolescents with good daily functioning and good immunovirological control may be similar to their peers.