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Welcome to HNRC

Welcome to the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center


The mission of the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC) is to increase our understanding of how HIV and other diseases affect the human nervous system. The Center is supported by public funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the State of California, and other sources (NIMH/CSPAR Award Number P30MH062512). The HNRC conducts local, national, and international research devoted to advancing our knowledge of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV-related diseases as they affect the brain and nervous system, and result in impairment of everyday functioning.

 

news

 

The AIDS BEACON Features the HNRC Study Publication "Intraindividual Variability in HIV Infection: Evidence for Greater Neurocognitive Dispersion in Older HIV Seropositive Adults"

Results of this study showed that inconsistency in performing mental tasks was significantly worse in older HIV-positive participants compared to both younger HIV-positive participants and older HIV-negative study participants. The authors hypothesized that the problems are due to accelerated aging in the HIV-positive population, which has been observed in other studies.

To Cite:

Morgan EE, Woods SP, Delano-Wood L, Bondi MW, Grant I.  (2011). Intraindividual variability in HIV infection: Evidence for greater neurocognitive dispersion in older HIV seropositive adults. Neuropsychology, 25(5), 645-54. PMID: 21574712  PMCID: 3158302

Link to Abstract

Link to AIDS BEACON News Story

 

Nichole Duarte presented the poster entitled “Risky decision making in methamphetamine dependent adults with ADHD” at the 119th American Psychological Association’s Convention

Ms. Duarte began her affiliation with the HNRP in 2009 as a Psychiatric Coordinator.   She holds an MA degree in Psychology with BCIA-C (Biofeedback certification) and is in her final semester of a PhD degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Health Psychology. She has  completed CAPIC-approved internship rotations at 1) Sharp Hospital - Pain Rehabilitation Program, 2) Palomar Hospital - Outpatient Partial Hospitalization Program & Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit and 3) ISIS Crisis House (CRF START Program).  Her research interests include 1) Psychiatric Aspects of NeuroAIDS, 2) Substance Use & HIV, 3) Severe comorbid mental illness & HIV, 4) Adherence and HIV, 5) Psychiatric Aspects of Chronic Pain Conditions, 6) Psychiatric Aspects of Chronic Health Conditions and 7) Psychiatric Assessment in the Context of HIV.

This study explored how ADHD/Methamphetamine use may impact an individual's higher propensity to engage in risky behaviors that yield immediate rewards even in light of future possible negative results.  The theory underpinning design of this study postulates that deficits in working memory/decreased activation in the frontal cortex of the brain may contribute to the inability to adequately weigh rewards and consequences.

Read more...
 

3rd Methods in International NeuroAIDS Research Symposium on July 14-16, 2011 in Frascati, Italy

The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (UCSD), in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, is pleased to convene the 3rd Methods in International NeuroAIDS Research Symposium on July 14-16, 2011 in Frascati, Italy. This meeting is linked with the 4th International Meeting on HIV Infection and the Central Nervous System (see attached), and will immediately precede the International AIDS Society (IAS) conference in Rome (http://www.ias2011.org/).

Read more...
 

Dr. Igor Grant Comments on the Fascinating Research Findings of Fellow AIDS Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Is it the Astrocytes?

Findings reported in the manuscript Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Human Astrocytes Disrupts Blood-brain Barrier Integrity by a Gap Junction-dependent Mechanism published in the June 29th Issue of the Journal of Neuroscience indicate that astrocytes may lead the way to understanding neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection.  Dr. Grant stated, “This study provides a possible explanation indicating that minute numbers of infected astrocytes can trigger a cascade of signals that could open the brain to various toxic influences."  Eliseo Eugenin, primary author of the study, constructed a blood-brain barrier model using human cells and found that infection of astrocytes may be important in promoting neurocognitive impairment that so commonly travels with HIV infection, possibly by weakening the blood-brain barrier allowing infection of brain cells.

For the article in HealthDay News click here.

For redirect to the abstract of the published manuscript and Journal Information click here.

 
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