Teens turn to text messages for AIDS advice in Zambia
In an article by Stephanie Findlay HNRP investigator Dr. David Moore weighs in on how mobile technology could be an inexpensive response to taxed health care systems. "Apps exist to help people locate the closest HIV testing site......What if you could do something like an HIV rapid test using an app on your phone? That could be a game changer in terms of HIV incidence." The article describes the overwhelming response of text messages U-Report, a text-message based HIV counseling hotline, receives from HIV-infected Zambian teenagers asking "brutally honest" questions related to the infection.
The First HIV/AIDS Generation Reaches Retirement Age
Newsweek published an article by on September 18, 2014, "The First HIV/AIDS Generation Reaches Retirement Age". The article covers many of the issues of an aging HIV infected population. These issues are the impetus of HNRP research focusing on prospective memory, adherence to medication, comorbid aging conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions such as dementia.
Click Here to link to the full article.
Newly Funded Grant - Endocannabinoids, Cannabis, and Neurocognitive Deficits in HIV
Dr. Brook Henry received notice of funding for his study that will examine dose response interaction between cannabis use and the endocannabinoid (EC) system.
Previous studies have indicated that the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of the EC system may have therapeutic utility in reducing HIV-induced damage to the central nervous system, including preventing the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). In contrast, cannabis use is reported to induce neurocognitive and functional impairment after chronic exposure.
CHARTER Manuscript Highlighted in Neurology
Dr. Igor Grant and the CHARTER Group have a featured article in the June 2014 issue of Neurology, “Asymptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment increases risk for symptomatic decline”. Their study presents further evidence that HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders remain prevalent despite combination antiretroviral therapy. The study demonstrates that early asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) confers an increased risk and faster development of functional/symptomatic decline in individuals with HIV disease progression. These findings highlight the importance of identifying those with ANI in the clinic early on to offer an opportunity to modify treatment to delay progression to symptomatic/functional decline.
Click Here for link to Pubmed - and full article when available in Pubmed Central.
CHARTER Longitudinal Neurocognitive Data Unveiled at AIDS 2014
Dr. Robert Heaton presents the longitudinal data from the CNS HIV Anti-Retroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) study at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) being held from 20-25 July 2014 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Melbourne, Australia.
Key points of the presentation include that neurocognitive change (NC) change is common in HIV infection, there are clinical and biological predictors of NC change, that the increased comorbidity burden and factors associated with Hispanic ethnicity deserve more attention in clinical care of HIV+ individuals, and that consistent use of ART to maintain virologic control may protect the central nervous system and improve NC outcomes.
To Cite:
Heaton RK, Franklin DR, Deutsch R, Letendre SL, Ellis RJ, Blackstone K, Marquine MJ, Woods SP, Vaida F, Atkinson JH, Marcotte TD, McCutchan JA, Collier AC, Marra CM, Clifford DB, Gelmen BB, McArthur JC, Morgello S, Simpson DM, Abramson I, Gamst A, Fennema-Notestine C, Smith DM, Grant I, for the CHARTER Group. (IP). Neurocognitive change in the era of HIV combination antiretroviral therapy: A longitudinal CHARTER Study. 20th International AIDS Conference.