Published Date: 12/05/2024
Expiration Date: 03/19/2027
This course will ensure that clinicians understand the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in HIV-positive and how it has changed with antiretroviral therapy (ART). HAND-related symptoms include short attention span, memory loss, mood disorders, irritability, poor judgment, confusion, and impairment of fine motor skills. As the HIV-positive patient population ages, co-morbidities including cerebrovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia are increasingly recognized as risk factors for cognitive impairment in HIV-positive patients on ART. ART remains the only option to prevent or delay progression of HAND with the early initiation of ART showing improved neurocognitive performance over time compared to delayed start to ART. Despite significant advances in the biomedical treatment of HIV-related conditions, the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of HAND remains challenging.