DURATION OF ILLNESS AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-INFECTION

The relationship between duration of illness and neuropsychological pe rformance was examined in 25 asymptomatic HIV-infected men with an est imated date of seroconversion. Mean duration of illness was approximat ely 2 years. After controlling for CD4 level at the time of neuropsych ological examination, duration of illness was correlated with measures of visual attention, mental flexibility, dexterity, auditory informat ion processing, and response fluency, as well as an overall measure of neuropsychological performance. Although these patients performed wit hin normal limits, these data suggest that duration of infection may b e related to subtle alterations in neuropsychological performance. The se results are discussed with regard to possible mechanisms that impli cate gradual accumulation of neurotoxins.