Cognitive decline associated with asymptomatic HIV: six case studies

Abstract

The performance of six patients with asymptomatic HIV was assessed on a standardised and comprehensive neuropsychological test battery across eight domains of cognitive functioning: premorbid intelligence and gross cognitive functioning, attention and concentration, motor speed and cognitive flexibility, memory (both verbal and visuospatial), social judgment and abstraction, language, visuoconstructional perception, and emotional and psychological status. A case study approach was utilised with performance being measured against standardised norms. Results indicated great inter- and intra-individual variance on most cognitive domains. Quantitatively most subjects operated within normal limits. However, significant deterioration was noted in the domains of, premorbid intellectual functioning, especially PIQ, attention and concentration, motor speed and cognitive flexibility, immediate verbal memory, delayed visual memory, abstraction, and word fluency. These observations suggest that asymptomatic HIV+ patients experience cognitive decline associated with subcortical and frontal lobe damage.