HIV dementia, or AIDS dementia complex, is a complication that affects the central nervous system of a patient diagnosed with HIV. The condition is thought to be caused by the virus and usually results in the patient's death. Cognitive decline, including a reduction in attention span, difficulty walking and a change in behavior, are a few of the symptoms of HIV dementia.
HIV dementia is a common condition that usually develops after a patient has had the virus for a number of years. It usually occurs right before the onset of AIDS. Nearly half of all patients with HIV or AIDS at one point developed HIV dementia. The number of people who develop the condition has decreased with the greater availability and use of antiretroviral therapies.
Early symptoms of HIV dementia usually include mild signs of cognitive difficulty. A person may have trouble keeping track of his daily activities or lose his train of thought mid-sentence. The decline in mental ability may initially be mild enough that a doctor cannot diagnose the condition through the standard tests.
Symptoms become more obvious as HIV dementia progresses to later stages. The patient may become unable to carry out his day-to-day activities, such as going to work or taking care of the house. He may lose his ability to navigate and get lost, even when going to familiar places. As the condition moves to its later stages, the patient may become unable to walk without support.
Behavioral changes and psychosis are other signs of HIV dementia. Someone with the condition may seem depressed and may simply sit without seeming to respond to anything except direct questions. Other people may show signs of mania in later stages and may seem hyperactive, agitated, or unable to control their actions.
HIV associated dementia can be officially diagnosed through imaging, electroencephalography (EEG), or by interviewing the patient. Imaging — such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans — examines both the size of the brain and changes in certain areas of it. Atrophy of the brain is one sign that AIDS complex dementia is present. MRIs and CAT scans also can be used to make sure the patient does not have another condition, such as a tumor or a stroke.
If a person undergoes an EEG, the brain's activity is measured through electrodes attached to the scalp. It can help detect dementia in its later stages, when activity has slowed. Interviewing the patient and asking him to perform tasks and tests is often the most effective way to diagnose HIV dementia, because it can determine what stage of the condition the patient is in as well as what his specific symptoms are.