Re: Possible cognitive decline???

[Guest guest]

Hi Luke,

Testing for cognitive decline is not simple. Ideally, you would

have a baseline and be able to compare. There is a whole battery of tests that

I have gone through repeatedly, paper-and-pencil tests that have you trace

connections between letters and numbers; identify shapes; word recall tests

where you’re read a list of words and asked later to repeat them; a “grooved

pegboard” test where you put specially shaped pins into holes; and so on.

Honestly, you may be the best judge of whether things “just aren’t

right.” I had a similar kind of word thing, where I would substitute garage and

refrigerator – both ways! Weird! And my VL is undetectable, with CD4s running

about 900.

Bob

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of hoppefaith@...

Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 10:53 PM

Subject: Possible cognitive decline???

For the past few weeks.. I notice i'm taking a bit more time to

say a word or, think of it.. and I say the wrong word or use the wrong

words in a sentence,.,. like if i;m supposed to say the first word first.. then

say xxxx. then say the other word after this.. i reverse the order.. I cannot

think of any examples,, It dawned on me that something might be

brewiing.. I;m 49 pos since 1990 and always unded and cd4 about

600.. On atripla for several years . So, what precise tests can determine

if something is just not right?? and what kind of doc determines this.. I

prefer to do my homework before discsussing this with my ID doc as he might

have his favorites and i want to be sure I go to a very smart

doctor to help with this.. I live in san diego thanks Luke

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[Guest guest]

Similar story here except it's been going on for awhile. Words don't want to

come out, word recall is more and more difficult. Long term survivor here, poz

since 82 (blood was stored in a research study and later tested) 700 T-cells and

VL <45. I can certainly tell my brain is more hesitant. One good thing is that

I'm slower to put my foot in my mouth otherwise it's kinda weird. Also feel more

anxious around people. ID says it's old age, I'm ONLY 57. My bones are that of

an 80 year old and my brain it...well, can't recall the right word right now! I

certainly feel a decline in mental status. I do think it scares people around me

more than it scares me.

/Red

>

> For the past few weeks.. I notice i'm taking a bit more time to say a word

> or, think of it.. and I say the wrong word or use the wrong words in a

> sentence,.,. like if i;m supposed to say the first word first.. then say xxxx.

> then say the other word after this.. i reverse the order.. I cannot think

> of any examples,, It dawned on me that something might be brewiing.. I;m

> 49 pos since 1990 and always unded and cd4 about 600.. On atripla for

> several years . So, what precise tests can determine if something is just

not

> right?? and what kind of doc determines this.. I prefer to do my homework

> before discsussing this with my ID doc as he might have his favorites and

> i want to be sure I go to a very smart doctor to help with this.. I live

> in san diego thanks Luke

> **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the

> web. Get the Radio Toolbar!

> (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003)

>

[Guest guest]

-------------- Original message ----------------------

From: julev <JuLev@...>

>

> It is important for patients to be aware of this potential development, a

> decline a cognitive function. Potentially preventive measures include adequate

> exercise, proper diet-it is suggested that omega 3s and eating adequate fish

in

> diet can be helpful, some suggest statins might help although I have heard

mixed

> reports. You can test your inflammation biomarkers: hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-a.

Although

> some may say what will you do with the results it is I think helpful to have

> more information. Detectable viral load and dyslipidemia have both

independently

> been in studies associated with risk for developing cognitive impairment and

> worse mental functioning so keeping lipids and glucose under control are

> important. Glucose elevation has been found to be associated with cogntive

> impairment in HIV-negatives and appears like a crucial factor.

This is great info, and thank you for providing it, Jules.

After recovery from the most serious part of my illness about a year ago, I

decided to return to school in order to obtain a bachelor's degree in social

work. While I was sick, I became acutely aware of the need for HIV/AIDS

services in the Mississippi area. Consequently I decided to pursue the social

work degree so I could contribute to finding a solution to that problem.

Almost as soon as I started school, I became ACUTELY aware of cognitive

deficits. My memory was shot. I had difficulty concentrating and focusing.

Did I mention that my memory was shot? I did a little research, and found three

studies reporting that methylphenidate (a/k/a Ritalin) was effective for dealing

with cognitive deficits in those with HIV disease. I made copies of the papers,

and sent them to my psychiatrist. He didn't give me any static, and now I'm on

Ritalin. The jury is still out on how well it's going to work (let's see what

my final grades look like), but I can already detect an intensification of my

focus. I'm still waiting for improvement in memory, but I've been taking

Ritalin for only two weeks.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I can send you the citations for the

three papers. I can't put my hands on them at the moment (did I mention that my

memory is shot?), and all three were published in mainstream peer-reviewed

journals.

Regards,

Nick

--

Nick

6811 Old Canton Road, Apt. 1008

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-991-1164

thenick@...

http://nicknicholas.net

[Guest guest]

-------------- Original message ----------------------

From: julev <JuLev@...>

>

> It is important for patients to be aware of this potential development, a

> decline a cognitive function. Potentially preventive measures include adequate

> exercise, proper diet-it is suggested that omega 3s and eating adequate fish

in

> diet can be helpful, some suggest statins might help although I have heard

mixed

> reports. You can test your inflammation biomarkers: hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-a.

Although

> some may say what will you do with the results it is I think helpful to have

> more information. Detectable viral load and dyslipidemia have both

independently

> been in studies associated with risk for developing cognitive impairment and

> worse mental functioning so keeping lipids and glucose under control are

> important. Glucose elevation has been found to be associated with cogntive

> impairment in HIV-negatives and appears like a crucial factor.

This is great info, and thank you for providing it, Jules.

After recovery from the most serious part of my illness about a year ago, I

decided to return to school in order to obtain a bachelor's degree in social

work. While I was sick, I became acutely aware of the need for HIV/AIDS

services in the Mississippi area. Consequently I decided to pursue the social

work degree so I could contribute to finding a solution to that problem.

Almost as soon as I started school, I became ACUTELY aware of cognitive

deficits. My memory was shot. I had difficulty concentrating and focusing.

Did I mention that my memory was shot? I did a little research, and found three

studies reporting that methylphenidate (a/k/a Ritalin) was effective for dealing

with cognitive deficits in those with HIV disease. I made copies of the papers,

and sent them to my psychiatrist. He didn't give me any static, and now I'm on

Ritalin. The jury is still out on how well it's going to work (let's see what

my final grades look like), but I can already detect an intensification of my

focus. I'm still waiting for improvement in memory, but I've been taking

Ritalin for only two weeks.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I can send you the citations for the

three papers. I can't put my hands on them at the moment (did I mention that my

memory is shot?), and all three were published in mainstream peer-reviewed

journals.

Regards,

Nick

--

Nick

6811 Old Canton Road, Apt. 1008

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-991-1164

thenick@...

http://nicknicholas.net

[Guest guest]

-------------- Original message ----------------------

From: julev <JuLev@...>

>

> It is important for patients to be aware of this potential development, a

> decline a cognitive function. Potentially preventive measures include adequate

> exercise, proper diet-it is suggested that omega 3s and eating adequate fish

in

> diet can be helpful, some suggest statins might help although I have heard

mixed

> reports. You can test your inflammation biomarkers: hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-a.

Although

> some may say what will you do with the results it is I think helpful to have

> more information. Detectable viral load and dyslipidemia have both

independently

> been in studies associated with risk for developing cognitive impairment and

> worse mental functioning so keeping lipids and glucose under control are

> important. Glucose elevation has been found to be associated with cogntive

> impairment in HIV-negatives and appears like a crucial factor.

This is great info, and thank you for providing it, Jules.

After recovery from the most serious part of my illness about a year ago, I

decided to return to school in order to obtain a bachelor's degree in social

work. While I was sick, I became acutely aware of the need for HIV/AIDS

services in the Mississippi area. Consequently I decided to pursue the social

work degree so I could contribute to finding a solution to that problem.

Almost as soon as I started school, I became ACUTELY aware of cognitive

deficits. My memory was shot. I had difficulty concentrating and focusing.

Did I mention that my memory was shot? I did a little research, and found three

studies reporting that methylphenidate (a/k/a Ritalin) was effective for dealing

with cognitive deficits in those with HIV disease. I made copies of the papers,

and sent them to my psychiatrist. He didn't give me any static, and now I'm on

Ritalin. The jury is still out on how well it's going to work (let's see what

my final grades look like), but I can already detect an intensification of my

focus. I'm still waiting for improvement in memory, but I've been taking

Ritalin for only two weeks.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I can send you the citations for the

three papers. I can't put my hands on them at the moment (did I mention that my

memory is shot?), and all three were published in mainstream peer-reviewed

journals.

Regards,

Nick

--

Nick

6811 Old Canton Road, Apt. 1008

Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-991-1164

thenick@...

http://nicknicholas.net

[Guest guest]

I am also having problems, but was not sure if anything could be done. I

am 57 y/o and sometimes think my 83 y/o mother has better short time

memory than I do.

It sounds like we should all get at least evaluated for a base line

even if we don't have any problems as yet. I local hospital is

partispating in ACTG 5235, which is the minocycline study. After reading

all of these notes, I will look in to seeing if I can get in to ACTG

5235.

Wes

[Guest guest]

There is no one simple answer to this problem. More likely people should try

several different things to reduce the potential for cognitive decline.

Drugs are one way to go. They have been studied for quite a while, but not for

HIV specifically.

Nutrients are another option that have support from quality published data.

For instance, if you are taking niacin in higher doses to reduce cholesterol and

increase HDL2 for cardiovascular health, you are greatly increasing your chances

of having better memory test scores, especially short term memory. See:

http://www.michaelmooney.net/niacin.htm -- The study here used only 425 mg of

niacin per day and showed up to 40 percent increase in memory test scores,

especially short term memory. I take 2300 mg per day, as Niaspan at 1000 mg

twice a day and 300 mg in my daily vitamins. Niaspan is a time-released

prescription version that works well.

I've been taking it for 41 years, and I'm sure it's part of why I can remember

all of the info in medical journal studies I read.

Just realize that when you first start taking it, the skin flush that you get

can be pretty wild. I started out taking 3,000 mg per day and turned beet red,

head to toe. But I found it as an option to being very depressed because of the

many effects it has on the brain. Studies in the 50's showed alcoholics having

less potential to relapse when they took it in higher doses. Regular vitamins

only have 20 to maybe even 50 mg. The beneficial effects start at about 300 mg

per day.

Mooney

www.michaelmooney.net

www.medibolics.com

> >

> > For the past few weeks.. I notice i'm taking a bit more time to say a

> word

> > or, think of it.. and I say the wrong word or use the wrong words in a

>

> > sentence,.,. like if i;m supposed to say the first word first.. then say

> xxxx.

> > then say the other word after this.. i reverse the order.. I cannot

> think

> > of any examples,, It dawned on me that something might be brewiing..

> I;m

> > 49 pos since 1990 and always unded and cd4 about 600.. On atripla for

>

> > several years . So, what precise tests can determine if something is

> just not

> > right?? and what kind of doc determines this.. I prefer to do my

> homework

> > before discsussing this with my ID doc as he might have his favorites

> and

> > i want to be sure I go to a very smart doctor to help with this.. I

> live

> > in san diego thanks Luke

>

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