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HIV and AIDS in Older Adults: Neuropsychiatric Changes

  • Geriatric Disorders (JA Cheong, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Patients diagnosed with HIV can now survive well into their old age. Aging with HIV is not only associated with comorbid medical illnesses but also with neuropsychiatric conditions that can range from cognitive changes to severe behavioral manifestations. This paper reviews mood, anxiety, and cognitive changes in older patients with HIV, as well as some of the treatment challenges in this population.

Recent Findings

Most recent findings show that untreated HIV illness over a long period of time may further worsen both preexisting neuropsychiatric illness and may cause new onset behavioral and cognitive symptoms. HIV induces immune phenotypic changes that have been compared to accelerated aging Low CD 4 counts and high viral counts are indicative of poor prognosis.

Summary

Evaluation for potential HIV infections may be overlooked in older adults and require screening. Older adults experience accelerated CD4 cell loss. Older adults endorsing new onset mood or cognitive changes must be screened for HIV infection. New onset neurobehavioral symptoms should be carefully screened for and treated simultaneously in patients with HIV infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA

    Paroma Mitra & Katherine Kim

  2. Bellevue Hospital Center, New York City, NY, USA

    Paroma Mitra & Katherine Kim

  3. Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA

    Ankit Jain

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  1. Paroma Mitra
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  2. Ankit Jain
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Correspondence to Paroma Mitra.

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Mitra, P., Jain, A. & Kim, K. HIV and AIDS in Older Adults: Neuropsychiatric Changes. Curr Psychiatry Rep 24, 463–468 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01354-z

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