Human immunodeficiency virus has similar effects on brain volumetrics and cognition in males and females

Abstract

Most studies that have examined neuropsychological impairments associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have focused on males, yet females represent one of the largest groups of newly infected patients. Further, few studies have examined neuropsychological performance and neuroimaging outcomes among females compared to males in the modern era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The present study investigated neuropsychological performance and brain volumetrics among HIV+ males (n = 93) and females (n = 44) on stable HAART compared to HIV seronegative (HIV-) males (n = 42) and females (n = 49). Results revealed a significant effect of HIV on neuropsychological performance and neuroimaging measures. An effect of gender, independent of HIV status, was also observed for neuroimaging measures but not neuropsychological performance. Additionally, no significant differences in neuropsychological performance or brain volumetrics were seen between HIV+ males and females. No significant interaction was observed between HIV and gender on either neuropsychological or neuroimaging indices. Our results suggest that both HIV+ males and females treated with HAART experience similar outcomes in terms of brain integrity.

Keywords: Cognition; Gender; HIV; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychology; Volumetrics.

Figure 1

Boxplots of the volumes (mm³) for HIV infected (HIV+) and HIV uninfected (HIV−) groups. Lines within each box represent the mean values for volumes of each group and bars represent standard deviation within each of the following regions: a. Putamen, b: Amygdala, c. White Matter, d. Nucleus Accumbens, e. Corpus Callosum, f. Hippocampus, g. Caudate, h. Total Gray Matter.¶ The effect of HIV on the Corpus Callosum does not survive false discovery rate (FDR) correction. However, for all other regions the effect of HIV but not gender was significant after FDR correction.¶