Fwd: NATAP: Cognitive Impairment in HAART Era: 3 studies

[Guest guest]

Begin forwarded message:From: Jules Levin <julev@...>Date: January 11, 2011 9:10:09 PM ESTnatap list <hiv@..., HCV/HIV natap <nataphcvhiv@...>, undefined Natap industry <natapindustry@...>, natap doctors doctors <natapdoctors@...>Subject: NATAP: Cognitive Impairment in HAART Era: 3 studiesCognitive Impairment in HAART Era: 3 studies1. HIV-1 infection and cognitive impairment in the cART-era: a reviewBrain Research Urged in Paper in AIDS: "HIV-1 infection and cognitive impairment in the cART-era: a review" - "studies....report abnormal scores on neuropsychological assessments in 15 - 50% of patients.....clinical course should be followed closely in large cohorts of patients.....promising therapies should be studied"Brain

Research Urged in Paper in AIDS: "HIV-1 infection and cognitive impairment in the cART-era: a review" - "studies....report abnormal scores on neuropsychological assessments in 15 - 50% of patients.....clinical course should be followed closely in large cohorts

of patients.....promising therapies should be studied" - published pdf attached - (12/22/10)2. Eradication/CNS Penetration: 'Eradication of HIV from the brain: reasons for pause' - pdf attached - (01/11/11)"if eradication of this virus is to be achieved, some very fundamental questions of the reservoir in the brain need to be addressed. Or else the CNS reservoirs may not be cleared and more importantly, several of the approaches being considered could potentially have devastating consequences on the brain."3. Effects of central nervous system antiretroviral penetration on cognitive functioning in the ALLRT cohort - pdf attached - (01/11/11)"Our analyses suggest that careful selection of antiretroviral regimens could increase the CPE by at least one unit for many individuals, and may yield neurocognitive benefits proportionate to the differences seen in neurocognitive impairment between participants with and without an AIDS diagnosis. Improved neurocognitive function would be expected to have an impact on activities of daily living [21], including medication adherence [22,23],

driving [24], and employment [25]."

[Guest guest]

Might there be a better regimen than Atripla to help with cognitive impairment? I've noticed for the past few months, that I've been either slurring some speech or taking too much time to get the words out. typically at the beginning of what I want to say. Truth be told. I really don't know what is going on.. I do know that there has been an ever so slight change in my speaking skills.. POs 20 years vl <50 for many years cd4 600's and never had an oi. Any ideas. What type of neuro would help with this? I live in San Diego and I know there is a place downtown, but they want you there for 2 full days( I dont think they treat, they only do tests) and I'd rather go to a private practice unless this place is so fine, that I should just do it..

[Guest guest]

The Charter study found that half of us had some sort of cognitive problem (mild to moderate). And most of the people who had a problem had low CD4 nadir in the past (the lowest CD4 in your HIV history), Hep C co-infection or history of drug use. It seems that as CD4  cells go down (no one has determined the magic number), we lose some cognitive function that is not improved after our CD4 cells go up again. Read more here : http://www.natap.org/2010/IAS/IAS_53.htm

I have always suspected Sustiva to impair cognitive function is SOME (not all) patients.  Those with the most vivid dreams and nightmares tend not to reach REM sleep levels are well. Lack of REM tends to worsen cognitive function.

It is so interesting to me that the HIV medications that penetrate the blood brain barrier are also the ones that could be the most neuro toxic.

I forget names, faces, even events that have happened in the near and distant future.  Friends and family are surprised when I fail to remember things that most of them remember having done with me.  But I guess I do not have to try too hard to " live in the moment " since I am starting to let go of the past but not by choice

By the way, I think someone here has tried using the Alzheimer's drug donepezil for their HIV cognitive loss with good results.

On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 5:35 PM, <hoppefaith@...> wrote:

Might there be a better regimen than Atripla to help with cognitive impairment?  I've noticed for the past few months, that I've been either slurring some speech or taking too much time to get the words out. typically at the beginning of what I want to say. Truth be told. I really don't know what is going on.. I do know that there has been an ever so slight change in my speaking skills..  POs 20 years  vl <50 for many years  cd4 600's and never had an oi. Any ideas. What type of neuro would help with this? I live in San Diego and I know there is a place downtown, but they want you there for 2 full days( I dont think they treat, they only do tests)  and I'd rather go to a private practice unless this place is so fine, that I should just do it.. 

-- Greetings, VergelAmazon Author profile: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003E3RYKY

[Guest guest]

I forgot to add this interesting link about potential " cognitive enhancers " http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=508426

nelson

On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 7:23 PM, Vergel <nelsonvergel@...> wrote:

The Charter study found that half of us had some sort of cognitive problem (mild to moderate). And most of the people who had a problem had low CD4 nadir in the past (the lowest CD4 in your HIV history), Hep C co-infection or history of drug use. It seems that as CD4  cells go down (no one has determined the magic number), we lose some cognitive function that is not improved after our CD4 cells go up again. Read more here : http://www.natap.org/2010/IAS/IAS_53.htm

I have always suspected Sustiva to impair cognitive function is SOME (not all) patients.  Those with the most vivid dreams and nightmares tend not to reach REM sleep levels are well. Lack of REM tends to worsen cognitive function.

It is so interesting to me that the HIV medications that penetrate the blood brain barrier are also the ones that could be the most neuro toxic.

I forget names, faces, even events that have happened in the near and distant future.  Friends and family are surprised when I fail to remember things that most of them remember having done with me.  But I guess I do not have to try too hard to " live in the moment " since I am starting to let go of the past but not by choice

By the way, I think someone here has tried using the Alzheimer's drug donepezil for their HIV cognitive loss with good results.

On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 5:35 PM, <hoppefaith@...> wrote:

Might there be a better regimen than Atripla to help with cognitive impairment?  I've noticed for the past few months, that I've been either slurring some speech or taking too much time to get the words out. typically at the beginning of what I want to say. Truth be told. I really don't know what is going on.. I do know that there has been an ever so slight change in my speaking skills..  POs 20 years  vl <50 for many years  cd4 600's and never had an oi. Any ideas. What type of neuro would help with this? I live in San Diego and I know there is a place downtown, but they want you there for 2 full days( I dont think they treat, they only do tests)  and I'd rather go to a private practice unless this place is so fine, that I should just do it.. 

-- Greetings, VergelAmazon Author profile: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003E3RYKY

-- Greetings, VergelAmazon Author profile: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003E3RYKY

[Guest guest]

I have been on Atripla 3 years and diagnosed 2 yrs ago with early stage

Parkinsons. I'm 62. I've noticed a lot of the same memory lapses as have been

referred to. However, some of these same occurrences existed before Atripla and

my medical team - PCP and shrink - decided some of these lapses may be linkjed

to Parkinsons. I decided recently to have cognitive imapirment testing. The

results were nothing alarming stood out no need for more intensive testing and

not to worry. At this point, I now have a baseline for further followup. It took

about 4hrs and insurance covered 100%. Now I do not worry when I find the p'nut

butter in the microwave and that in order to brew a pot a coffee, despite all

the prep work starting with grinding the beans - it must be turned on.

Good Luck

Be Well

>

> Might there be a better regimen than Atripla to help with cognitive

> impairment? I've noticed for the past few months, that I've been either

slurring

> some speech or taking too much time to get the words out. typically at the

> beginning of what I want to say. Truth be told. I really don't know what is

> going on.. I do know that there has been an ever so slight change in my

> speaking skills.. POs 20 years vl <50 for many years cd4 600's and never

> had an oi. Any ideas. What type of neuro would help with this? I live in

> San Diego and I know there is a place downtown, but they want you there for 2

> full days( I dont think they treat, they only do tests) and I'd rather go

> to a private practice unless this place is so fine, that I should just do

> it..

>