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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Approximately half of the people living with HIV (PLWH) experience HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs). However, the neuropathogenesis of HAND is complex, and identifying reliable biomarkers has been challenging.Methods
This study included 132 participants aged 50 and older from greater San Diego County. The participants were divided into three groups: PLWH with HAND (n = 29), PLWH without HAND (n = 73), and seronegatives without cognitive impairment (n = 30). Peripheral blood was collected at the clinical assessment, and plasma levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), phosphorylated Tau 181 (pTau181), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results
Plasma levels of NfL (but not pTau181 and GFAP) were significantly associated with HAND at a medium effect size (p = 0.039, Cohen's d = 0.45 for HAND + vs. HAND-). Notably, higher levels of NfL were significantly associated with HAND diagnosis even after adjusting for sex.Discussion
Our data suggest that neuronal degeneration (as evidenced by increased levels of NfL), but not tau pathology or glial degeneration, is related to cognitive status in PLWH. Our results corroborate the view that blood NfL is a promising biomarker of cognitive impairment in PLWH.
SUBMITTER: Rocha NP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9992101 | biostudies-literature | 2022
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Rocha Natalia P NP Teixeira Antonio L AL Colpo Gabriela D GD Babicz Michelle A MA Thompson Jennifer L JL Woods Steven Paul SP
Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 20220101 6
<h4>Introduction</h4>Approximately half of the people living with HIV (PLWH) experience HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs). However, the neuropathogenesis of HAND is complex, and identifying reliable biomarkers has been challenging.<h4>Methods</h4>This study included 132 participants aged 50 and older from greater San Diego County. The participants were divided into three groups: PLWH with HAND (n = 29), PLWH without HAND (n = 73), and seronegatives without cognitive impairment (n = ...[more]