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

Introduction And Aim: 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.

Subjects And Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.