Skip to main content
Download PDF

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a pilot study in Cameroon

BMC Neurology volume 10, Article number: 60 (2010) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The disease burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is highest in sub-Saharan Africa but there are few studies on the associated neurocognitive disorders in this region. The objectives of this study were to determine whether Western neuropsychological (NP) methods are appropriate for use in Cameroon, and to evaluate cognitive function in a sample of HIV-infected adults.

Methods

We used a battery of 19 NP measures in a cross-sectional study with 44 HIV+ adults and 44 demographically matched HIV- controls, to explore the validity of these NP measures in Cameroon, and evaluate the effect of viral infection on seven cognitive ability domains.

Results

In this pilot study, the global mean z-score on the NP battery showed worse overall cognition in the HIV+ individuals. Significantly lower performance was seen in the HIV+ sample on tests of executive function, speed of information processing, working memory, and psychomotor speed. HIV+ participants with AIDS performed worse than those with less advanced HIV disease.

Conclusions

Similar to findings in Western cohorts, our results in Cameroon suggest that HIV infection, particularly in advanced stages, is associated with worse performance on standardized, Western neurocognitive tests. The tests used here appear to be promising for studying NeuroAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Peer Review reports

Background

Neurological complications affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems are common in HIV infection. The vast majority of studies on HIV-related neurocognitive disorders were performed in developed countries, on patients infected with HIV-1 subtype B [for recent reviews, see [1–4]]. Two-thirds of the estimated 33.2 million individuals currently living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worldwide are in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and are infected with mostly non-B HIV subtypes. Thus, it is important to diagnose and categorize HIV effects on the central nervous system (CNS) in SSA [4, 5].

Autopsy studies of HIV-infected individuals have shown that the brain is the second organ most frequently affected by HIV infection [6]. Studies of neuroAIDS pathogenesis have established that following HIV infection, the virus rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain, where it productively infects brain macrophages and microglia [for recent reviews, see [3, 7–9]]. Toxic HIV proteins and cytokines secreted by infected mononuclear phagocytes in the brain cause dysfunction of other CNS cells and neuronal death [10–12]. This HIV-induced brain pathology often results in behavioral, motor and cognitive abnormalities referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) [13]. HIV-associated dementia (the most severe form of HAND) has been described as a sub-cortical dementia, yet clinical and pathological studies have also shown an association between cortical neurodegeneration and HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment in infected patients [4, 14, 15].

Like many countries in SSA, Cameroon still has a heavy burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to recent estimates, the prevalence of HIV infection in the overall adult population of Cameroon is 5.1%, with prevalence of 8.3% in large metropolitan areas like the capital city Yaoundé, 7.4% among women, and 26.4% in female sex workers [16–18]. Furthermore, Cameroon has a high genetic diversity of HIV strains including several group M HIV-1 subtypes, HIV-1 groups O and N, circulating recombinant forms and unique recombinant forms [19–23]. Therefore, it is important to understand the neurological and neurocognitive effects of HIV infection in this country.

A comprehensive NP battery was recently adapted and successfully used to produce normative data in healthy children in Cameroon [24]. Also, we have screened HIV-infected adults in Yaoundé for HAND and its risk factors using the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) [25, 26]. Although the IHDS is simple and rapid, it is neither comprehensive nor able to assess specific cognitive functional domains. The goal of the current study was to adapt the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC, University of California at San Diego) international NP test battery in Cameroon, and to explore its validity for the detection of HAND in infected Cameroonians. This battery included 19 test measures designed to evaluate several ability domains known to be vulnerable to HIV effects on the brain, including abstraction/executive function, speed of information processing, attention and working memory, verbal fluency, motor ability, learning and delayed recall [27–29]. This preliminary report describes the first attempt to examine the effect of HIV infection on specific cognitive domain functions in infected individuals in Cameroon.

Methods

Setting and study design

This study is part of an ongoing project funded by the United States National Institute of Mental Health aimed at studying the neurological complications of HIV infection in Cameroon. The study was approved by the Cameroon National Ethics Committee, as well as the Institutional Review Board of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health delivered the administrative authorization for this research. This was a cross-sectional study comparing HIV-seropositive (HIV+) cases and HIV-seronegative (HIV-) controls. The HIV+ subjects were further classified as AIDS and non-AIDS based on clinical and immunological criteria: Center for Disease Control (CDC) clinical disease stage and CD4 T-lymphocyte counts [30, 31]. All clinical and neuropsychological testing was performed in the Neurology Department of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Training and adaptation of the neuropsychological battery

For this study, we used the HNRC international NP test battery, a battery that has been shown to be sensitive in detecting HAND in the USA, India, and China [27–29, 32]. This battery (Table 1) was administered by psychologists trained in psychometrics. To adapt NP and neuromedical procedures to Cameroon settings and ensure standardization, the Cameroon investigators (GDK, AKN, and CK) were trained and certified by American neuropsychologists and psychometrists (RKH, LAC, DRF) at the HNRC, University of California San Diego, U.S. The Cameroon investigators trained at HNRC then trained other Cameroonian examiners (psychologists, RD, SE) in Yaoundé, Cameroon who were certified by HNRC following review of their video-recorded testing sessions using staff volunteers from the Neurology Department, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. We translated all tests in the battery and test instructions into French. For the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), we used the version previously translated into French and validated by Rieu and colleagues [33]. The French version of the HNRC NP battery was tested, piloted, and approved by all bilingual (French- and English-speaking) scientists on the team (GDK, CTK, AKN, LAC). Selected NP tests were back-translated into English and back-translated tests were similar to the original English version of the tests. At the beginning of the study in Cameroon, quality assurance reviews were conducted by HNRC scientists on test forms of the first 5 visits, and thereafter on randomly selected 5 to 10% of all visits.

Table 1 Neuropsychological (NP) tests battery and Z-scores (mean ± SD) in the HIV+ group
Full size table

Neuropsychological tests

Table 1 show the tests used in this study for a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of subjects, grouped by ability domain:

Verbal fluency tests included tests of verbal, animal and action fluency, which measure the ability of generating words beginning with a given letter [34, 35] or by category [36, 37].

Executive functions tests included the Halstead Category Test [38], Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 (WCST-64) [39], and Colors Trails II [40]. The WCST-64 is a measure of frontal lobe function that assesses the ability to learn concepts, perseverance and competence in abstract reasoning. The Category test is also a measure of frontal lobe function and includes 7 subtests: subtests I and II evaluate number counting and attention; subtests III and VI measure visual abstract reasoning and memory respectively; subtests IV and V measure visual perception and spatial orientation respectively, while subtest VII evaluates learning and retention of the concepts associated with other subtests [38].

Speed of information processing tests: the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-III Digit Symbol and WAIS-III Symbol Search tests [41] produces measures of processing speed, visual perception, attention, concentration, visual-motor coordination, motor and mental speed. The Stroop Color and Word tests [42] measures cognitive processing and can provide valuable diagnostic information on brain dysfunction, cognition, mental speed and mental control. The Color Trails and Trail Making Test produces measures of attention, visual searching, mental processing speed, and measure the ability to mentally control simultaneous stimulus pattern [40].

Memory learning and memory recall tests: the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) [43] measures visual learning and memory while the HVLT-R [44] assesses verbal learning and memory. Both BVMT-R and HVLT-R also assess recognition and recall.

Working memory tests: the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)-50 is a measure of cognitive function that specifically assesses the processing speed of auditory information, concentration, flexibility, mental calculation and mental tracking abilities [45, 46]. The Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) Spatial Span provides an estimate of general memory functioning and is sensitive to memory impairments associated with various clinical conditions [47].

Motor function test: the Grooved Pegboard test (dominant and non-dominant hand) measures performance speed and requires complex visual-motor coordination [48].

Participants and data collection

HIV+ individuals and seronegative controls were recruited from January 2008 to June 2009 at 1) the HIV voluntary counseling and testing sections of the Daycare Hospital in the Yaoundé Central Hospital; and 2) the Health and Social Welfare Centre of the University of Yaoundé I. The purpose of the study and research procedures were fully explained to participants and adults 18 to 60 years old who gave a written consent were allowed to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria were: 1) present or past history of CNS disease unrelated to HIV, 2) head trauma, 3) current alcohol intoxication (blood alcohol content of each participant was measured using a Breathalyzer), 4) known psychiatric disease or treatment with antipsychotic drugs, and 5) ongoing systemic illness or fever with temperature of 37.5°C or higher. All subjects enrolled spoke French as their primary language and interviews were conducted in French. All participants provided demographic information, underwent a thorough neurological assessment and a complete medical history and physical examination by neurologists at Yaoundé Central Hospital, before NP testing, to detect any focal neurological deficit suggestive of CNS opportunistic infection. This thorough clinical assessment of each subject combined with review of his or her prior medical history and laboratory data, ensured that potential confounding factors such as CNS opportunistic infections were ruled out.

Beck Depression Inventory [49] and NP tests were administered to each subject by trained psychologists/psychometrists in the Neuropsychology Room of the Neurology Department: a private, quiet and well-lit room. Following neurological and general medical assessment and NP testing, blood samples were collected for serology. The HIV status of each participant was determined using the rapid immunochromatographic HIV-1/2 test (Abbott Diagnostics, Chicago, IL, USA) and the Murex HIV antigen/antibody Combination ELISA (Abbott Diagnostics). A participant was considered HIV+ if they tested positive for the 2 tests and HIV- if negative for both tests, and discordant if positive for only one test. No discordant result was observed in this study. The CD4 T-lymphocyte count of infected individuals was determined by flow cytometry, using a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) Count Instrumentation System (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA). For viral load quantification we used the Abbott Real-Time Viral Load Test, with Abbott m2000 system (Abbott Diagnostics). All biological tests were done in the Haematology Laboratory of the University Hospital Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Data analysis

Eighty-eight (88) individuals, of whom 44 were HIV+ and 44 HIV- completed the NP battery. Both groups were well matched for age, education, and gender (Table 2). Raw scores were transformed into z-scores using the control group's mean and standard deviation. All z-scores were coded so that increasingly negative scores indicated worse performance. The t-test was used to statistically compare the HIV+ and HIV- groups on each of the 19 NP measures, and Cohen's d effect sizes were also computed. A summary score on the NP battery was obtained by averaging the 19 individual z-scores to reflect overall level of NP performance, and scores on measures in each of the seven ability domains were averaged to create domain summary scores. We also explored the magnitude of demographic effects on test performance in our Cameroon participants, which would need to be controlled in a norms development project before the tests could be used confidently to classify cognitive impairment in individual Cameroonians. Thus, the individual effects of age, education and gender were tested using standard regression analyses, separately in the HIV- and HIV+ groups, and for each cognitive ability domain. All effect sizes were corrected for small samples size bias using Hedges' correction. The seronegative control group, the non-AIDS and AIDS subgroups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Dunnett's comparisons on the overall mean z-score and mean z-scores on the seven ability domains. Secondary analyses included as covariates those demographic variables that were significant in univariate analyses. Analyses were conducted using the JMP statistical software version 7.0 (SAS Inc; 2008).

Table 2 Demographic and clinical characteristics of the HIV+ and HIV- groups
Full size table

Results

Demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics

A total of 88 (44 HIV+ and 44 HIV-) adult Cameroonians were evaluated. Participants' demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics are summarized in Table 2. All participants were screened for sub-optimal effort using the Hiscock forced-choice recognition test cut-off of less than 90%. Only one individual in the control group scored in the sub-optimal effort range and was excluded from further analyses. There was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls in age, education, or sex (% female) (Table 2). Of the 44 HIV+ individuals, 22 (50%) were classified as non-AIDS and 22 as having AIDS (Table 3): CD4 T-lymphocytes counts below 200 cells/μl and AIDS indicator conditions as specified in the CDC AIDS case definition criteria [30, 31]. Fifteen of the 44 HIV+ individuals (34%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as expected their viral load was significantly lower than that of AIDS and non-AIDS HIV+ individuals who were not on ART (Table 3).

Table 3 Laboratory characteristics of the HIV+ group
Full size table

NP tests performance of controls and HIV-infected patients in Cameroon

Table 1 contains the z-scores of the HIV+ and HIV- groups for all 19 test instruments used in this study. The summary mean z-scores across all 19 test measures showed that HIV+ group performed significantly less well in NP testing than HIV- controls (P < 0.05). Comparisons of individual z-scores for each of the 19 test measures showed that for the WCST-64, PASAT-50, Category test, and Spatial Span, the NP performance of HIV+ individuals was significantly lower than that of HIV- controls. Computation of effect sizes further showed that effect sizes were medium for the Category Test and WCST-64 (both measures of executive function), and small-to-medium for PASAT-50 and Spatial Span (measures of working memory), although not statistically significant with the current sample sizes. Small-to-medium HIV status effects sizes were also noted on another measure of executive function (Color Trails-II), as well as on measures of speed of information processing (Digit Symbol, Symbol Search) and visual episodic memory (BVMT-R). Finally, small effect sizes for HIV status were also seen for another measure of processing speed (Stroop Color Naming) and a measure of motor function (Grooved Pegboard, Non-dominant Hand). Although mean scores on all tests in the battery were worse for the HIV+ group than the HIV- group, only a minimal effect (d < 0.2) was observed on the remaining eight measures in Table 1 (especially on tests of verbal fluency and verbal episodic memory).

As expected, very substantial demographic effects were present in the data and influenced NP performance. Age and education independently and in combination predicted global mean z-scores and ability domain mean z-scores in both HIV- and HIV+ groups, with demographic effects more pronounced in the control group (Table 4). Older age and lower education were associated with lower NP performance; gender had no effect on NP performance, except for verbal tests where gender significantly influenced mean z-scores in the control group (Table 4).

Table 4 Individual (Pearson r) effects of age, education and sex on global (mean z-score) and ability domains (mean ability z-score) neuropsychological performance
Full size table

NP tests performance of AIDS patients and non-AIDS HIV+ individuals

The AIDS subgroup of HIV+ volunteers performed significantly worse on the NP tests than either the HIV- controls (P = 0.005) or the non-AIDS HIV+ subgroup (P < 0.01). Compared to the mean z-score for the overall performance of HIV- controls (-0.01 ± 0.7), the mean z-score for the overall performance of the AIDS subgroup was -0.54 ± 0.63 (P = 0.005), while mean z-score of non-AIDS HIV+ subgroup was -0.05 ± 0.56. Adjusting performance for age and education yielded comparable results. The AIDS and non-AIDS HIV+ subgroups had the same demographic characteristics and when NP performance was adjusted for age and education, AIDS patients still performed worse than non-AIDS and controls. Analysis of mean ability z-scores of controls, AIDS, and non-AIDS for each of the 7 ability domains showed that AIDS patients performed significantly worse (P < 0.01) than controls in NP tests assessing executive function, speed of information processing, memory recall, and working memory (Figure 1). Analyses adjusting for demographic effects (age, education, gender) gave similar results. Compared to controls, individuals in the AIDS group also had lower mean z-scores on tests assessing verbal, memory learning, and motor functions, but the difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, NP performance of HIV- and non-AIDS HIV+ groups showed no significant difference in all 7 ability domains tested (Figure 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Increased cognitive impairment in AIDS patients compared to non-AIDS and HIV-controls. Mean (± standard error) ability z-scores for each group was computed for the seven ability domains, analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's comparison. Compared to controls and HIV+ non-AIDS individuals, z-scores of AIDS patients were significantly lower on Executive function, Speed of Information Processing, Memory Recall and Working memory (p < 0.01).

Full size image

Computation of effect sizes when comparing the HIV- controls versus the AIDS subgroup, and HIV- versus the non-AIDS HIV+ subgroup, showed medium-to-large effect sizes for overall cognitive and executive function and working memory (Table 5). Effect sizes were medium for speed of information processing and memory recall, and small-to-medium for verbal fluency, learning, and motor function (Table 5). Global and ability domain mean z-score effect sizes showed no difference between the overall performance of non-AIDS HIV+ subgroup and HIV- controls (Tables 5), however a small effect of non-AIDS HIV infection was observed for executive function.

Table 5 Effect sizes between controls, Non-AIDS and AIDS for cognitive domains ability scores and global score
Full size table

Discussion

This is the first study of NP performance and impairment of specific cognitive domains using a comprehensive and validated NP assessment battery in HIV-infected individuals in Cameroon. After translation into French and when administered by trained examiners, this battery detected cognitive dysfunction in HIV-infected Cameroonians. Participants were able to understand, follow test instructions, and validly complete NP tests, including computerized tests such as the Category test, WCST-64, and PASAT-50. All HIV- and HIV+ subjects were recruited in the same settings/hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and shared similar demographic features. As in many SSA countries, it has been shown that HIV transmission in Cameroon is predominantly (> 90%) through unprotected heterosexual contact [50] which reduces the likelihood of comorbid conditions that may affect the CNS (e.g., substance use disorders, co-infection with Hepatitis-C due to injection drug use that is a common risk for HIV infection in other parts of the world). Cultural differences probably affect performances on NP tests in a similar way as education differences. However this will not necessarily affect the validity of the NP tests for measuring disease related CNS dysfunction because the basic abilities assessed (verbal fluency, learning, attention and working memory, cognitive processing speed, executive function) exist and have some relevance in any population. Moreover, these cultural differences are mitigated when controls and diseased groups are from the same population with similar culture, as in this study.

HIV infection in Cameroon appears to be associated with impairment of cognitive function in domains similar to those most affected by HIV in geographic regions outside West Africa. Specifically, AIDS patients performed worse than non-AIDS HIV+ and HIV- groups on the global NP testing and NP tests assessing executive function, speed of information processing, working memory, and memory recall. In general, compared to HIV- control, the pattern of cognitive deficits was similar in non-AIDS HIV+ and AIDS groups, with deficits more pronounced in AIDS patients for all cognitive domains. Our results also indicate that neurocognitive impairment increases as the disease progress and is strongly associated with advanced immune deficiency and clinical disease, consistent with findings in the developed world. Effects from opportunistic infections are unlikely to have caused NP impairment because persons with a history of these diseases were excluded. All study participants were recruited at Yaoundé hospital out-patient clinics, appeared physically well and came to the clinics alone, without any support from a caregiver; thus, it is unlikely that patients in the AIDS group performed poorly because they were feeling too sick to perform at their best.

Other studies have shown increased rates of neurocognitive impairment with advanced stages of HIV infection [51–53]. Using this comprehensive NP battery, Heaton and colleagues [28, 29] showed that HAND is an important feature of HIV infection in China, and the impairment pattern, severity, and prevalence were similar to those reported in Western countries. Studies in India showed deficits in the domains of fluency, working memory, memory and learning in Clade C HIV-infected individuals, with AIDS patients showing greater impairment in visual working memory than non-AIDS and seronegative controls [32]. Robertson and colleagues [54] evaluated NP performance among HIV+ individuals in Uganda and found that compared to HIV- controls, the HIV+ group showed significant deficits on measures of learning and memory, speed of information processing, attention and executive function.

Clifford and colleagues [55] examined a group of workers in Ethiopia and found that HIV+ patients had slowed finger-tapping speed, but that the HIV+ and HIV- groups performed similarly in timed gait, Grooved Pegboard, and verbal fluency tests. Similarly, we found that performance of HIV- and HIV+ groups on the Grooved Pegboard, and on tests of verbal fluency, and on Trail making-A or Color Trails-I and II did not differ significantly (Table 1). In contrast, our more comprehensive NP battery found that HIV+ persons (mainly those with advanced disease) performed significantly worse than HIV- controls on tests of working memory (PASAT and WMS-III Spatial Span) and higher level executive functions (Category Test and WCST-64), with smaller (non significant with the current sample sizes) effect sizes in the same direction on tests of speed of information processing (WAIS-III Digit Symbol and Symbol Search, and Stroop Color Naming speed) and visual episodic memory (BVMT-R). Interestingly, in contrast to the latter result with visual episodic memory and findings in developed countries, our measures of verbal episodic memory (HVLT-R learning and recall) did not even show a small HIV effect. A smaller HIV effect for our verbal than visual episodic memory measures also was seen in rural China [29] and may suggest that the visual measures are more generalizable across cultures.

Several studies had demonstrated that demographic effects such as age, education, cultural and ethnic differences affect NP test performance [56–59]. A study of NP impairment among HIV+ individuals in South Africa showed that older age, lower education level, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol use affected NP performance [60]. As expected, demographic effects were also present in our data as computation of Pearson's r showed that age and education significantly influenced NP performance, especially in the HIV- group, while gender had no major effect.

The cognitive impairments observed among HIV+/AIDS Cameroonians are likely due to HIV infection because our comparison groups were well matched for demographic factors and those with confounding conditions such as alcohol intoxication, systemic illness, CNS or psychiatric diseases were excluded. There are currently no normative adult NP test data for Cameroon or SSA, and large demographic effects noted in this study underscore need for more comprehensive local normative NP data to improve neurocognitive diagnosis [61]. Our subsequent studies will enroll more HIV- control subjects in order to establish normative data for NP testing in adult Cameroonians.

Our pilot study has a number of limitations including: 1) the small sample size which likely limits the power to detect differences in some individual NP test measures, precludes us from creating demographically adjusted test scores and from exploring possible effects of ART on cognitive performance; 2) the inability of the current study to estimate the population prevalence of cognitive impairment due to lack of local normative NP data; 3) lack of brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data, due to limited resources and logistic difficulties, precludes us from exploring the relationship between HIV-induced neurologic abnormalities, HIV brain infection (CSF viral load) and cognitive performance; 4) this study was conducted in an urban setting and findings cannot be generalized to rural settings where inhabitants have much lower education levels.

A recent United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) report estimates that over half million Cameroonians are currently living with HIV, of which only about 25% have access to antiretroviral drugs and ART coverage for prevention of mother-to-child transmission is less than 25% [17]. In our current study, only 15 of the 44 HIV+ individuals (34%) were on ART, including 6 of the 22 non-AIDS HIV+ and 9 of the 22 AIDS patients. In subsequent studies with larger sample size, we will evaluate the effect of ART on neurocognitive performance. Neurocognitive impairment predicts the presence of HIV encephalitis [62–64] and is an independent risk factor for death [65]. In resource limited countries like Cameroon, many HIV-infected individuals have no access to ART, and low CD4 cell counts and clinical symptoms remain the major criteria for selecting patients for ART treatment. Detection of neurocognitive impairment could target patients for ART, possibly reversing brain dysfunction in some cases, improving their productivity and quality of life, and perhaps even prolonging their survival.

Conclusions

Advanced immunosuppression from HIV infection is associated with HAND in Cameroon. AIDS patients showed impairment in executive function, speed of information processing, working memory, and memory recall and the pattern of deficits is similar to that found in many other areas of the world. Further longitudinal research with large HIV-infected population is needed to determine whether suppression of HIV replication through ART will reduce the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment in Cameroon as observed elsewhere.

Authors' information

United States investigators: GDK is Associate Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center. RKH is Professor and Neuropsychologist at HNRC, University of California San Diego (UCSD). LAC was a Research Fellow at HNRC and recently moved to the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. RJE is a Neurologist and Professor at the HNRC, UCSD. JAM is Professor, Epidemiologist, and infectious diseases specialist at the HNRC, UCSD. DRF is a Psychometrist at the HNRC, UCSD.

Cameroon investigators: AKN is a Neurologist, Head of the Neurology Department at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, and Associate Professor and Vice-Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I. KTC is a Neurologist at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. JYF is a clinician and research fellow at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. SE and RD are Psychologists and trained Psychometrists at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. DM is Head of the hematology lab at the Yaoundé University Hospital Center, and Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I. EM is a technician in the hematology lab, University Hospital Center, Yaoundé. FB is Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I. DMN is a counselor and social worker at the HIV Day-Care Hospital, Yaoundé Central Hospital.

Abbreviations

AIDS:

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

ART:

antiretroviral therapy

CDC:

center for disease control

HAND:

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

HIV:

human immunodeficiency virus

SSA:

sub-Saharan Africa

CNS:

central nervous system

IHDS:

International HIV Dementia Scale

NP:

neuropsychological

HNRC:

HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center.

References

  1. Nath A, Schiess N, Venkatesan A, Rumbaugh J, Sacktor N, McArthur J: Evolution of HIV dementia with HIV infection. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2008, 20 (1): 25-31. 10.1080/09540260701861930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ances BM, Clifford DB: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and the impact of combination antiretroviral therapies. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2008, 8 (6): 455-461. 10.1007/s11910-008-0073-3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Boisse L, Gill MJ, Power C: HIV infection of the central nervous system: clinical features and neuropathogenesis. Neurol Clin. 2008, 26 (3): 799-819. 10.1016/j.ncl.2008.04.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Woods SP, Moore DJ, Weber E, Grant I: Cognitive neuropsychology of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Neuropsychol Rev. 2009, 19 (2): 152-168. 10.1007/s11065-009-9102-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Robertson K, Liner J, Heaton R: Neuropsychological assessment of HIV-infected populations in international settings. Neuropsychol Rev. 2009, 19 (2): 232-249. 10.1007/s11065-009-9096-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Masliah E, DeTeresa RM, Mallory ME, Hansen LA: Changes in pathological findings at autopsy in AIDS cases for the last 15 years. AIDS. 2000, 14 (1): 69-74. 10.1097/00002030-200001070-00008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gonzalez-Scarano F, Martin-Garcia J: The neuropathogenesis of AIDS. Nat Rev Immunol. 2005, 5 (1): 69-81. 10.1038/nri1527.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Persidsky Y, Ramirez SH, Haorah J, Kanmogne GD: Blood-brain barrier: structural components and function under physiologic and pathologic conditions. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2006, 1 (3): 223-236. 10.1007/s11481-006-9025-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ellis RJ, Calero P, Stockin MD: HIV infection and the central nervous system: a primer. Neuropsychol Rev. 2009, 19 (2): 144-151. 10.1007/s11065-009-9094-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Kanmogne GD, Kennedy RC, Grammas P: HIV-1 gp120 proteins and gp160 peptides are toxic to brain endothelial cells and neurons: possible pathway for HIV entry into the brain and HIV-associated dementia. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2002, 61 (11): 992-1000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. van Marle G, Henry S, Todoruk T, Sullivan A, Silva C, Rourke SB, Holden J, McArthur JC, Gill MJ, Power C: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Nef protein mediates neural cell death: a neurotoxic role for IP-10. Virology. 2004, 329 (2): 302-318.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Alirezaei M, Watry DD, Flynn CF, Kiosses WB, Masliah E, Williams BR, Kaul M, Lipton SA, Fox HS: Human immunodeficiency virus-1/surface glycoprotein 120 induces apoptosis through RNA-activated protein kinase signaling in neurons. J Neurosci. 2007, 27 (41): 11047-11055. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2733-07.2007.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Antinori A, Arendt G, Becker JT, Brew BJ, Byrd DA, Cherner M, Clifford DB, Cinque P, Epstein LG, Goodkin K, et al: Updated research nosology for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Neurology. 2007, 69 (18): 1789-1799. 10.1212/01.WNL.0000287431.88658.8b.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Masliah E, Heaton RK, Marcotte TD, Ellis RJ, Wiley CA, Mallory M, Achim CL, McCutchan JA, Nelson JA, Atkinson JH, et al: Dendritic injury is a pathological substrate for human immunodeficiency virus-related cognitive disorders. HNRC Group. The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center. Ann Neurol. 1997, 42 (6): 963-972. 10.1002/ana.410420618.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Everall IP, Heaton RK, Marcotte TD, Ellis RJ, McCutchan JA, Atkinson JH, Grant I, Mallory M, Masliah E: Cortical synaptic density is reduced in mild to moderate human immunodeficiency virus neurocognitive disorder. HNRC Group. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center. Brain Pathol. 1999, 9 (2): 209-217. 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1999.tb00219.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. EDSC-III: "Cameroon, Demographic Survey and Health", 2004. National Institute of Statistics. 2005, III:

  17. UNAIDS: Executive Summary: 2008 Report on the global AIDS Epidemic. UNAIDS/WHO. 2008

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kongnyuy EJ, Soskolne V, Adler B: Hormonal contraception sexual behaviour and HIV prevalence among women in Cameroon. BMC Womens Health. 2008, 8: 19-10.1186/1472-6874-8-19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Montavon C, Toure-Kane C, Nkengasong JN, Vergne L, Hertogs K, Mboup S, Delaporte E, Peeters M: CRF06-cpx: a new circulating recombinant form of HIV-1 in West Africa involving subtypes A, G, K and J. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002, 29 (5): 522-530.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Burda ST, Konings FA, Williams CA, Anyangwe C, Nyambi PN: HIV-1 CRF09_cpx circulates in the North West Province of Cameroon where CRF02_AG infections predominate and recombinant strains are common. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004, 20 (12): 1358-1363. 10.1089/aid.2004.20.1358.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ndembi N, Takehisa J, Zekeng L, Kobayashi E, Ngansop C, Songok EM, Kageyama S, Takemura T, Ido E, Hayami M, et al: Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in rural eastern Cameroon. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004, 37 (5): 1641-1650. 10.1097/00126334-200412150-00019.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang M, Wilbe K, Wolfe ND, Gaschen B, Carr JK, Leitner T: HIV type 1 CRF13_cpx revisited: identification of a new sequence from Cameroon and signal for subsubtype J2. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2005, 21 (11): 955-960. 10.1089/aid.2005.21.955.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Konings FA, Haman GR, Xue Y, Urbanski MM, Hertzmark K, Nanfack A, Achkar JM, Burda ST, Nyambi PN: Genetic analysis of HIV-1 strains in rural eastern Cameroon indicates the evolution of second-generation recombinants to circulating recombinant forms. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006, 42 (3): 331-341. 10.1097/01.qai.0000219784.81163.2e.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ruffieux N, Njamnshi AK, Mayer E, Sztajzel R, Eta SC, Doh RF, Kengne AM, Ngamaleu RN, Chanal J, Verdon V, et al: Neuropsychology in Cameroon: First Normative Data for Cognitive Tests Among School-Aged Children. Child Neuropsychol. 2009, 1-19.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Njamnshi AK, Djientcheu Vde P, Fonsah JY, Yepnjio FN, Njamnshi DM, Muna WE: The International HIV Dementia Scale is a useful screening tool for HIV-associated dementia/cognitive impairment in HIV-infected adults in Yaounde-Cameroon. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2008, 49 (4): 393-397. 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318183a9df.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Njamnshi AK, Bissek AC, Ongolo-Zogo P, Tabah EN, Lekoubou AZ, Yepnjio FN, Fonsah JY, Kuate CT, Angwafor SA, Dema F, et al: Risk factors for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Yaounde-Cameroon. J Neurol Sci. 2009, 285 (1-2): 149-153. 10.1016/j.jns.2009.06.043.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Carey CL, Woods SP, Rippeth JD, Gonzalez R, Moore DJ, Marcotte TD, Grant I, Heaton RK: Initial validation of a screening battery for the detection of HIV-associated cognitive impairment. Clin Neuropsychol. 2004, 18 (2): 234-248. 10.1080/13854040490501448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Cysique LA, Jin H, Franklin DR, Morgan EE, Shi C, Yu X, Wu Z, Taylor MJ, Marcotte TD, Letendre S, et al: Neurobehavioral effects of HIV-1 infection in China and the United States: a pilot study. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2007, 13 (5): 781-790. 10.1017/S1355617707071007.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Heaton RK, Cysique LA, Jin H, Shi C, Yu X, Letendre S, Franklin DR, Ake C, Vigil O, Atkinson JH, et al: Neurobehavioral effects of human immunodeficiency virus infection among former plasma donors in rural China. J Neurovirol. 2008, 1-14.

    Google Scholar 

  30. CDC: 1993 Revised Classification System for HIV Infection and Expanded Surveillance Case Definition for AIDS Among Adolescents and Adults. MMWR. 1992, 41 (RR-17):

  31. CDC: Guidelines for national HIV case surveillance including monitoring for HIV infection and AIDS. MMWR. 1999, 48 (RR-13): 1-27.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Gupta JD, Satishchandra P, Gopukumar K, Wilkie F, Waldrop-Valverde D, Ellis R, Ownby R, Subbakrishna DK, Desai A, Kamat A, et al: Neuropsychological deficits in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade C-seropositive adults from South India. J Neurovirol. 2007, 13 (3): 195-202. 10.1080/13550280701258407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Rieu D, Bachoud-Levi AC, Laurent A, Jurion E, Dalla Barba G: French adaptation of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2006, 162 (6-7): 721-728.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Benton A, Hamsher K, Sivan A: Multilingual aphasia examination. Pearson PsychCorp San Antonio TX. 1994, 3

    Google Scholar 

  35. Gladsjo JA, Schuman CC, Evans JD, Peavy GM, Miller SW, Heaton RK: Norms for letter and category fluency: demographic corrections for age education, and ethnicity. Assessment. 1999, 6 (2): 147-178. 10.1177/107319119900600204.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Piatt AL, Fields JA, Paolo AM, Koller WC, Troster AI: Lexical, semantic and action verbal fluency in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1999, 21 (4): 435-443. 10.1076/jcen.21.4.435.885.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Woods SP, Scott JC, Sires DA, Grant I, Heaton RK, Troster AI: Action (verb) fluency: test-retest reliability normative standards and construct validity. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2005, 11 (4): 408-415.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. DeFilippis NA: Category Test: Computer Version Research Edition. Psychological Assessment Resources Inc Lutz FL. 2002

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kongs SK, Thompson L. L, Iverson G. L, Heaton R. K: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 Card Version. 2000, Lutz FL

    Google Scholar 

  40. D'Elia LF, Satz P, Uchiyama C.L, White T: Colors Trails Test. Psychological Assessment Resources Inc Lutz FL. 1996

    Google Scholar 

  41. Wechsler D: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Third edition (WAIS-III). Pearson PsychCorp San Antonio TX. 1997

    Google Scholar 

  42. Golden CJ: Identification of brain disorders by the Stroop Color and Word Test. J Clin Psychol. 1976, 32 (3): 654-658. 10.1002/1097-4679(197607)32:3<654::AID-JCLP2270320336>3.0.CO;2-Z.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Benedict RH: Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised. Psychological Assessment Resources Inc Lutz FL. 1977

    Google Scholar 

  44. Brandt J, Benedict RH: Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised. Professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources Inc Lutz FL. 2001

    Google Scholar 

  45. Gronwall DM: Paced auditory serial-addition task: a measure of recovery from concussion. Percept Mot Skills. 1977, 44 (2): 367-373.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Diehr MC, Heaton RK, Miller W, Grant I: The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT): norms for age education, and ethnicity. Assessment. 1998, 5 (4): 375-387. 10.1177/107319119800500407.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Wechsler D: Wechsler Memory Scale - Third edition (WMS-III). Pearson PsychCorp San Antonio TX. 1977

    Google Scholar 

  48. Klove H: Clinical neuropsychology. The medical clinics of North America In FM Foster New York Saunders. 1963

    Google Scholar 

  49. Beck AT, Steer RA, Brown GK: Beck Depression Inventory. Pearson PsychCorp San Antonio TX. 1996, 2

    Google Scholar 

  50. Awuba JaM G: HIV/AIDS in Cameroon: Rising gender issues in policy-making matters. African Journal of Health Sciences. 2007, 14 (3-4): 118-128.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Odiase FE, Ogunrin OA, Ogunniyi AA: Memory performance in HIV/AIDS--a prospective case control study. Can J Neurol Sci. 2007, 34 (2): 154-159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Wong MH, Robertson K, Nakasujja N, Skolasky R, Musisi S, Katabira E, McArthur JC, Ronald A, Sacktor N: Frequency of and risk factors for HIV dementia in an HIV clinic in sub-Saharan Africa. Neurology. 2007, 68 (5): 350-355. 10.1212/01.wnl.0000252811.48891.6d.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Heaton RK, Grant I, Butters N, White DA, Kirson D, Atkinson JH, McCutchan JA, Taylor MJ, Kelly MD, Ellis RJ, et al: The HNRC 500--neuropsychology of HIV infection at different disease stages. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 1995, 1 (3): 231-251. 10.1017/S1355617700000230.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Robertson KR, Nakasujja N, Wong M, Musisi S, Katabira E, Parsons TD, Ronald A, Sacktor N: Pattern of neuropsychological performance among HIV positive patients in Uganda. BMC Neurol. 2007, 7: 8-10.1186/1471-2377-7-8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Clifford DB, Mitike MT, Mekonnen Y, Zhang J, Zenebe G, Melaku Z, Zewde A, Gessesse N, Wolday D, Messele T, et al: Neurological evaluation of untreated human immunodeficiency virus infected adults in Ethiopia. J Neurovirol. 2007, 13 (1): 67-72. 10.1080/13550280601169837.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Maj M, Satz P, Janssen R, Zaudig M, Starace F, D'Elia L, Sughondhabirom B, Mussa M, Naber D, Ndetei D, et al: WHO Neuropsychiatric AIDS study cross-sectional phase II. Neuropsychological and neurological findings. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994, 51 (1): 51-61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Manly JJ, Miller SW, Heaton RK, Byrd D, Reilly J, Velasquez RJ, Saccuzzo DP, Grant I: The effect of African-American acculturation on neuropsychological test performance in normal and HIV-positive individuals. The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC) Group. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 1998, 4 (3): 291-302.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Durvasula RS, Miller EN, Myers HF, Wyatt GE: Predictors of neuropsychological performance in HIV positive women. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2001, 23 (2): 149-163. 10.1076/jcen.23.2.149.1211.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Sacktor N, Skolasky R, Selnes OA, Watters M, Poff P, Shiramizu B, Shikuma C, Valcour V: Neuropsychological test profile differences between young and old human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals. J Neurovirol. 2007, 13 (3): 203-209. 10.1080/13550280701258423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Joska JA, Fincham DS, Stein DJ, Paul RH, Seedat S: Clinical Correlates of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders in South Africa. AIDS Behav. 2009, 14 (2): 371-8. 10.1007/s10461-009-9538-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Heaton RK, Ryan L, Grant I: Demographic influences and use of demographically corrected norms in neuropsychological assessment. Neuropsychological Assessment of Neuropsychiatric and Neuromedical Disorders. Edited by: Grant I, Adams KM. 2009, New York: Oxford University Press, 127-155. Third

    Google Scholar 

  62. Cherner M, Masliah E, Ellis RJ, Marcotte TD, Moore DJ, Grant I, Heaton RK: Neurocognitive dysfunction predicts postmortem findings of HIV encephalitis. Neurology. 2002, 59 (10): 1563-1567.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Moore DJ, Masliah E, Rippeth JD, Gonzalez R, Carey CL, Cherner M, Ellis RJ, Achim CL, Marcotte TD, Heaton RK, et al: Cortical and subcortical neurodegeneration is associated with HIV neurocognitive impairment. AIDS. 2006, 20 (6): 879-887. 10.1097/01.aids.0000218552.69834.00.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Gongvatana A, Schweinsburg BC, Taylor MJ, Theilmann RJ, Letendre SL, Alhassoon OM, Jacobus J, Woods SP, Jernigan TL, Ellis RJ, et al: White matter tract injury and cognitive impairment in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. J Neurovirol. 2009, 15 (2): 187-195. 10.1080/13550280902769756.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Ellis RJ, Deutsch R, Heaton RK, Marcotte TD, McCutchan JA, Nelson JA, Abramson I, Thal LJ, Atkinson JH, Wallace MR, et al: Neurocognitive impairment is an independent risk factor for death in HIV infection. San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group. Arch Neurol. 1997, 54 (4): 416-424.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fogarty International Center and the NIMH grant MH80611 (Dr. G Kanmogne, P.I.). We thank all patients and subjects for their collaboration and participation in this study. We are grateful to Mrs Pensy Rosalie for assistance in overall coordination of the research project in Cameroon, and Gina Eide for editorial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Georgette D Kanmogne

  2. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Callixte T Kuate, Julius Y Fonsah, Fidele Binam, Dora Mbanya & Alfred K Njamnshi

  3. Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Callixte T Kuate, Julius Y Fonsah, Sabine Eta, Roland Doh & Alfred K Njamnshi

  4. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA

    Lucette A Cysique, Donald R Franklin Jr, Ronald J Ellis, John A McCutchan & Robert K Heaton

  5. Brain Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Lucette A Cysique

  6. HIV Day-Care Hospital, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Dora M Njamnshi

  7. University Hospital Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Emilienne Nchindap & Dora Mbanya

Authors
  1. Georgette D Kanmogne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Callixte T Kuate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lucette A Cysique
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Julius Y Fonsah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sabine Eta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Roland Doh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Dora M Njamnshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Emilienne Nchindap
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Donald R Franklin Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ronald J Ellis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. John A McCutchan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Fidele Binam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Dora Mbanya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Robert K Heaton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Alfred K Njamnshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgette D Kanmogne.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

GDK was responsible for the study conception and design, data analysis and writing of the paper. AKN contributed to study design, coordinated subject recruitment, data acquisition and edited the paper. LAC and RKH contributed to data quality assurance, analysis and interpretation, and edited the paper. KTC, JYF, SE, RD, and DMN contributed to subject recruitment, counseling, neuropsychological, neurological and general medical evaluation, and data acquisition. EN and DM performed laboratory testing and data acquisition; FB contributed to study design and subject recruitment. RJE and JAM contributed to study design and edited the paper. DRF contributed to the training of Cameroon investigators and data quality assurance. All authors have approved the final version of this manuscript for submission.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kanmogne, G.D., Kuate, C.T., Cysique, L.A. et al. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a pilot study in Cameroon. BMC Neurol 10, 60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-10-60

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-10-60

Keywords

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
  • Neurocognitive Impairment
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status
  • Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test

BMC Neurology

ISSN: 1471-2377

Contact us