Neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-infected children : a concern for adolescence
Date
2013-06-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International AIDS Society
Abstract
Globally, an estimated 3.4 million children are living with HIV, yet little is known about the effects of HIV and antiretroviral
treatment (ART) on the developing brain, and the neurodevelopmental and behavioural outcomes of perinatally HIV-infected
(PHIV ) adolescents.
We reviewed the literature on neurodevelopmental outcomes in PHIV children and adolescents, and summarized the current
evidence on behaviour, general cognition, specific domains, hearing and language, school performance and physical disabilities
due to neurological problems.
Evidence suggests that PHIV children do not perform as well as controls on general cognitive tests, processing speed and
visual spatial tasks, and are at much higher risk for psychiatric and mental health problems. Children with AIDS-defining
diagnoses are particularly at risk for poorer outcomes.
A striking finding is the lack of published data specific to the adolescent age group (10 25 years), particularly from resourceconstrained
countries, which have the highest HIV prevalence. In addition, extreme heterogeneity in terms of timing and source
of infection, and antiretroviral experience limits our ability to summarize findings of studies and generalize results to other
settings.
Due to the complex nature of the developing adolescent brain, environmental influences and variation in access to ART, there
is an urgent need for research on the longitudinal trajectory of neurodevelopment among children and adolescents perinatally
infected with HIV, especially in high burden resource-constrained settings.
Description
CITATION: Laughton, B. et al. 2013. Neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-infected children : a concern for adolescence. Journal of the International Aids Society, 16:18603, doi:10.7448/IAS.16.1.18603.
The original publication is available at http://www.jiasociety.org
The original publication is available at http://www.jiasociety.org
Keywords
Perinatally HIV infected, Neurodevelopment, Newborn infants -- Growth, HIV-positive children, HIV-positive youth, Antiretroviral agents -- Side effects, Human growth -- Effect of drugs on, Brain -- Effect of drugs on
Citation
Journal of the International Aids Society
16
18603
Laughton, B. et al. 2013. Neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-infected children : a concern for adolescence. Journal of the International Aids Society, 16:18603, doi:10.7448/IAS.16.1.18603.
16
18603
Laughton, B. et al. 2013. Neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-infected children : a concern for adolescence. Journal of the International Aids Society, 16:18603, doi:10.7448/IAS.16.1.18603.