Neurobehavioural consequences of substance abuse and HIV infection

Although our understanding of how human immunodefiency virus (HIV)-related neurobehavioural deficits develop is nascent and preliminary, some clues ha ve emerged which may clarify lingering uncertainties. In particular, HIV se ems to yield brain dysfunction by mediating pathological changes upon neuro nal function. HIV also compromises immunological integrity, thereby resulti ng in secondary infections that may further increase brain dysfunction. Not ably, many individuals with HIV tend to be current or past abusers of drugs , and, in some cases, their drug use may have actually presented a pathway for initial HIV infection. Similar to HIV, many drugs tend to yield patholo gical changes upon neuronal function. Further paralleling HIV, some drugs s eem to compromise immune function, which in turn may yield secondary detrim ental effects upon the brain. Yet, despite the relatively high comorbidity rates of HIV infection and substance abuse, few investigations have address ed the potential interaction between these two factors upon neurobehavioura l status. Towards this end, the present paper reviews the existing literatu re concerning neuropsychological effects of HIV and substance use, and sugg ests potential mechanisms whereby substance use may potentiate and exacerba te the onset and severity of neurobehavioural abnormalities in HIV infectio n.