Subcortical profile of memory compromise among HIV-1-infected individuals.

Objective: To examine the hypothesis of subcortical pathologic impairment in HIV/AIDS.

Method: The study included 22 HIV+, 22 HIV- controls, 22 learning disordered (LD) HIV-, and 22 depressive HIV-. The groups were compared on eight WMS-III Indices.

Results: Analyses revealed significantly lower scores (p < .05) in HIV+ on visual immediate memory, immediate memory, visual delayed memory, auditory delayed memory, working memory, and general memory. For all cases, HIV+ participants scored below the control group only.

Conclusions: WMS-III indices discriminated HIV+ participants from normal comparisons. Inability to find differences between HIV+ and depressive and LD groups reflects the isolation of the subcortical effect to the HIV+ group.