Viral and Host Determinants of Neurovirulence of HIV-1 Infection

HIV-1 infection of the brain is often associated with impairment in cognition, motor performance, and behavior in adults, and in addition, slowed milestones of brain growth and development in children(33,42,79). These may range in severity from subtle, mild deficits to conspicuous decline in performance diagnosed as HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) and may occur in about 25% of AIDS patients independently of opportunistic infections, neoplasms, or metabolic derangements(44,85,104,120). However, close correlations between the clinical course of HAD and laboratory findings are not yet established(43,l40).