During the past two decades, the world scientific community has witnessed major achievements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV infection of the nervous system and HIV-Associated Dementia (HAD). Despite these giant gains, nervous system involvement during AIDS remains a relentlessly progressive disease with a deadly fate in many cases. This book on NeuroAIDS provides a unique resource for both general neurologists as well as basic neuroscientists with profound interests for research on NeuroAIDS. This book has special emphasis on the mechanisms of disease development and progression of HIV-infected patients with NeuroAIDS. The contributors have provided the readers with comprehensive reviews on clinical manifestations of HAD, mechanisms of HIV entry into the central nervous system, the role of cytokines and chemokines in pathogenesis of NeuroAIDS, drug abuse and NeuroAIDS, virus load in HAD, allostasis in HIV and AIDS, stroke in AIDS patients, and neuroimaging of HIV infection of the central nervous system. In addition, there are chapters on Varicella Zoster virus infection of HIV-seropositive and AIDS patients, as well as the molecular basis for opioids and AIDS virus interactions.

The Neurology of HIV Infection covers all aspects of nervous system involvement and pathology in HIV-infected individuals. Specialists in this field cover epidemiology, global aspects, pathology and pathogenesis of nervous system disease in HIV-infection. All complications, including the pathology caused by HIV itself and all opportunistic infections of the nervous system are reviewed in detail. Both central nervous and peripheral nervous system complications, including neuropathies and myopathies, are discussed. Key chapters on global developments, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, IRIS, stroke and neuro-aids in children complete this volume. - Covers all aspects of nervous system involvement and pathology in HIV-infected individuals - Includes the pathology caused by HIV and all opportunistic infections of the nervous system - Presents key chapters that focus on global developments, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, IRIS, stroke and neuro-aids in children

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) commonly enters the central nervous system, disturbs brain function, and ultimately results in serious brain damage. The most serious manifestation of this infection of the brain is HIV-associated dementia, which includes severe memory loss, slowness in thinking, disorientation, and social incapacity. Most persons who are HIV infected do not develop severe dementia; however, perhaps 50% of those with AIDS and a smaller proportion of HIV-infected carriers suffer from more subtle brain disorders that can be revealed by proper neuropsychological testing. This book summarizes the current state of our knowledge about the neurocognitive disorders associated with HIV-1 infection. The book brings together contributions from leading authorities on the prevalence, qualitative features, natural course, and effects of neuropsychological impairments in persons with HIV infection. Neuropsychological data are related to findings from studies of brain imaging, neuropathology, and the effects of antiretroviral treatments.

This text provides a clinical framework for the diagnosis and management of more than seventy potential neurological complications that may occur in the HIV infected patient. The clinical framework is designed to be "user friendly" so that even the most inexperienced clinician should be able to arrive at the correct diagnosis. The neurological complications of HIV disease have considerably changed in the last decade. Not only have more opportunistic conditions been described but other complications arising from antiretroviral drugs such as lipodystrophy and accelerated atherosclerosis have become problematic. Moreover, the pattern of complications has altered. Diseases such as cerebral toxoplasmosis, AIDS dementia complex and primary central nervous system lymphoma are now becoming uncommon to rare while peripheral neuropathy is becoming increasingly common. In line with these changes, there have been very significant advances in the therapy of HIV disease in general and in neurological complications in particular. Patients with AIDS dementia complex now have a variety of antiretroviral and adjuvant drugs available to them in contrast to the situation only five years ago where therapy was confined to two antiretroviral drugs at best.

This book is a practical guide in understanding how to prevent HIV transmission, to recognize risk behaviors, and to add something else to their repertoires. It aims to empower clinicians and provide a sense of security and competence with the recognition and understanding of some of the psychiatric illnesses that complicate and perpetuate the HIV pandemic that continue to persist throughout every area of the world despite the magnitude of the progress that has transformed the illness from a rapidly fatal to chronic illness that is no longer life-limiting. Missing in most of the literature on HIV is the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, contribution of psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric illness, and risk behaviors that drive the pandemic and serve as catalysts for new infections. This practical guide provides state-of-the-art understanding of not only prevention but also a way to recognize risk behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, and psychiatric illnesses that will demystify and decode the sometimes enigmatic and frustrating reasons for nonadherence with diagnostic procedures and life-saving treatments and care. All behaviors and pathology are covered as well as the resources and treatments available. The goal of this text is to refresh knowledge on the current state of psychiatric illness management among people living with HIV, to provide a concise volume on the psychiatric aspects of HIV prevention and treatment that substantially impact the overall care of the patient, and to help understand the psychiatric catalysts of the pandemic Written by experts in the field, HIV Psychiatry: A Practical Guide for Clinicians provides enduring guidance to medical and other professionals caring for complicated clinical patients as they face ongoing challenges in working with persons with HIV and AIDS.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a screening tool called the Listing of Impairments to identify claimants who are so severely impaired that they cannot work at all and thus qualify for disability benefits. In this report, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) makes several recommendations for improving SSA's capacity for determining disability benefits more accurately and quickly using the HIV Infection Listings.