Verbal episodic memory profiles in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND): A comparison with Huntington's disease and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

• Published in: Applied neuropsychology. Adult 2019-01, Vol.26 (1), p.17-27
• Main Authors: Doyle, Katie L., Woods, Steven Paul, McDonald, Carrie R., Leyden, Kelly M., Holden, Heather M., E. Morgan, Erin, Gilbert, Paul E., Corey-Bloom, Jody
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - complications; episodic memory; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; Humans; Huntington Disease - complications; Male; Memory and Learning Tests - statistics & numerical data; Memory Disorders - classification; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Memory, Episodic; Mental Recall - physiology; Middle Aged; movement disorder; Neurocognitive Disorders - classification; Neurocognitive Disorders - etiology; Neurocognitive Disorders - physiopathology; neuropsychological assessment; seizure disorder; subcortical; Verbal Learning - physiology
• ISSN: 2327-9095; 2327-9109
• DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1353993

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) commonly feature verbal episodic memory impairment historically characterized by a retrieval deficit, consistent with a classic "subcortical" presentation; however, there are hints of a subtle shift toward a more "cortical" memory profile characterized by a primary encoding deficit. The current study evaluated this possibility by comparing the pattern of HAND-associated verbal episodic memory deficits to those of traditional "subcortical" (i.e., Huntington's disease; HD) versus "cortical" (i.e., left temporal lobe epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis; L-MTLE) profiles. Seventy-seven individuals with HAND, 47 individuals with HD, 21 individuals with L-MTLE, and 45 healthy participants were administered the California Verbal Learning Test - 2 nd Edition (CVLT-II). CVLT-II profiles were classified as reflecting a primary encoding deficit, retrieval deficit, or a normal profile. Among participants with a deficit profile, the HAND group showed the highest rates of retrieval versus encoding profiles (71% vs. 29%), followed by HD (59% vs. 41%), L-MTLE (46% vs. 54%), and healthy (50% vs. 50%) groups. While significant profile heterogeneity was observed across clinical groups, findings suggest that HIV-associated verbal episodic memory impairments are most consistent with a traditional "subcortical," retrieval deficit profile, consistent with the primary frontostriatal neuropathogenesis of HIV disease.