To identify the neural markers of attention dysfunction in patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND).
Sixty participants, including 40 HIV-infected adults (half with HAND) and 20 demographically matched controls performed a visual selective attention task while undergoing high-density magnetoencephalography. Neuronal activity related to selective attention processing was quantified and compared across the 3 groups, and correlated with neuropsychological measures of attention and executive function. Spontaneous neural activity was also extracted from these attention-related cortical areas and examined with respect to HAND status.
HIV-infected participants with and without HAND exhibited behavioral selective attention deficits on the magnetoencephalography task, as indicated by an increased flanker effect. Neuronal measures of flanker interference activity in the alpha and theta range revealed differential dynamics in attention-related brain areas across the 3 groups, especially in those with HAND. In addition, theta range flanker interference activity in the left inferior frontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was associated with executive function and attention composite scores, respectively. Progressively stronger spontaneous alpha and theta activity was also found in unimpaired HIV-infected and HAND participants relative to controls across brain regions implicated in different components of attention processing.
Behavioral and neuronal metrics of selective attention performance distinguish participants with HAND from controls and unimpaired HIV-infected participants. These metrics, along with measures of local spontaneous neural activity, may hold promise as early markers of cognitive decline in participants with HIV infection and be useful prognostic indicators for HAND.
1. National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH103220, acquisition of data, study concept and design 2014-2019; 2. National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH116782, acquisition of data, study concept and design, 2018-2023; 3. National Institute of Mental Health, P30-MH062261, acquisition of data, study concept and design, 2015-2022; 4. National Institute on Drug Abuse, R03-DA041917, acquisition of data, study concept and design, 2016-2019
(1) National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH103220, participating personnel, acquisition of data, analysis of data, 2015-2017 (2) National Science Foundation, #1539067, participating personnel, acquisition of data, analysis of data, 2015-2017 Mackenzie S. Mills ? Reports no disclosures
(1) National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH103220, (2) National Science Foundation, #1539067
1. NIH, R01 MH073490, PI (2005-2016) 2. NIH, R21 MH106422, multiple PI (2015-2017) 3. NIH, R01 DA032513, multiple PI (2011-2017) 4. NIH, P30 MH062261, multiple PI (2000-2020) 5. NIH, 1U54GM115458, PI Rizzo, co-I, (2016-2021) 6. NIH, 1R01DA04316, multiple PI (2016-2021) 7. NIH, 1R01DA043258, multiple PI (2011-2016) 8. NIH, 1R01AI124965, co-I (2016-2021) 9. NIH, P01 DA028555 core PI (2010-2020) 10. NIH, U24 MH100925-01, multiple PI (2013-2018) 11. NIH, R01 DA040397, multiple PI (2015-2020)
1. National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH103220, PI, 2014-2019 2. National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH116782, PI, 2018-2023 3. National Institute of Mental Health, P30-MH062261, Co- PI of Imaging Core, 2015-2022 4. National Institute on Drug Abuse, R03-DA041917, PI, 2016-2019 5. National Institute on Aging, F31-AG055332, Sponsor, 2017-2022 6. National Science Foundation, #1539067, Co-PI, 2015-2019
1. American Heart Association, 16CSA28580000, Co-PI, 2016- 2019
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