HIV-Related Dementia Worsens in Patients with Depression and Peripheral Inflammation

 

by John Otrompke

Dementia which occurs in people with HIV can be distinguished from Alzheimer’s disease and warrants different treatment, according to a poster presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, which took place virtually.

Markers for inflammation found in HIV patients are associated with cognitive decline, whereas amyloid markers were not, according to poster 368, “Peripheral Inflammation and Depressed Mood Independently Predict Neurocognitive Worsening Over.”

“HIV dementia is different from Alzheimer’s because it is one of the few treatable dementias. When patients go on anti-retroviral therapy and achieve suppression, they also get cognitive improvement,” explained Ronald Ellis, MD, PhD, professor at the University of California-San Diego, lead author on the poster.

The researchers measured cognitive decline over 12 years in 191 patients with HIV. Inflammation biomarkers such as interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and soluble tumor necrosis factor type II were associated with greater neuro-cognitive decline (p=0.02), as was depressed mood at entry (p=0.0004). On the other hand, biomarkers like amyloid beta 42 and solid amyloid precursor proteins (sometimes thought to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease) were not associated with greater cognitive decline in HIV patients.

There are other differences as well, according to Ellis. “Although classic Alzheimer’s proceeds at a more rapid rate, people with HIV develop cognitive problems earlier.”

And while viral suppression is associated with cognitive improvement, it doesn’t restore cognition to normal, he explained. However, researchers have speculated that treatment intensification could actually reverse the decline, he added.

#ANA

#dementia

Black Patients and Women with HIV Suffered Greater Years of Potential Life Lost, according to Study from ID Week

 by John Otrompke

Between 1998 and 2018, women with HIV had a higher risk of mortality and higher premature mortality than other patients, according to a study presented at this year’s Infectious Disease Week conference, which took place online and in San Diego.

The disparity held true notwithstanding generally improved outcomes that occurred across the four treatment eras of the study, according to presentation 53, “Sex and Race Disparities in Premature Mortality among People with HIV: A 21-Year Observational Cohort Study.”

Women experienced 5.5 more adjusted years of life lost, while black subjects experienced nine months more.

“There are a lot of programs for MSM in the South of the United States, so women may be more affected by HIV,” said lead author Rachael Pellegrino, MD, MPH, a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and the study’s lead author.

              The findings of the 6,531-person study were concerning, noted Pellegrino, since women made up 20% of the HIV population

Largest Study Finds Reduced Cardiovascular Mortality & Stroke in Regular Coffee-Drinkers

 by John Otrompke

A study in nearly half a million participants found that coffee drinking is associated with a significantly-reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality and stroke, according to an e-poster presented at this year’s on-line meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.

                Researchers found that cardiovascular mortality was reduced by 17% in those who drank up to three cups of coffee per day compared to non-coffee-drinkers, according to the e-poster, “Light-to-moderate coffee drinking associated with health benefits.” (The p value was 0.006).

                “To our knowledge, this was the largest study to systematically assess the cardiovascular effects of regular coffee consumption in a population without diagnosed heart disease,” said study author Dr. Judit Simon, of the Heart and Vascular Centre at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.

                Researchers examined data from 468,629 participants in the UK Biobank and found a 12% lower risk of all-cause death (p<0.001), and a 21% lower risk of incident stroke (p=0.037), with a median follow-up of 11 years. The average age of participants was 56.2 years and 55.8% of the participants were women.

“The study excluded those with more severe heart disease like myocardial infarction, stroke, and atrial fibrillation, but those with hypertension and diabetes were included,” noted Simon.

Of the UK Biobank population, 30,650 participants underwent an MRI. “In the first 30,000, we checked the volume and ejection fraction, and found positive alterations in the heart structure. The amount the heart pushes out is a healthy alteration,” explained Simon.

The researchers also conducted a sub-analysis evaluating differences associated with the type of coffee consumption, and found improvements in all three outcomes, that is, cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and all-cause mortality, among those who used ground coffee, she added.

My thanks to the European Society of Cardiology for credentialing me to attend the meeting.

Hello potential employers,

I'm gathering momentum! Now, I have been credentialed for the 2021 annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, happening online from Oct. 17-19.

As you know, there has been much interesting news in the dementia space this year. I have been invited to attend a media roundtable with the chairs of the plenary sessions.

Thank you for your interest. 

~John Otrompke

John_Otrompke@yahoo.com

 Dear readers,

I have been credentialed for the 2021 annual Infectious Disease Week meeting, happening online from Sept. 29 through October 3, 2021.

See my 2012 coverage for The Body Pro here and here.

I hope to post additional material regarding important news from the meeting in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for your interest. 

~John Otrompke

John_Otrompke@yahoo.com

I have been credentialed for the 2021 Meeting of the European Society of Cardiology

 Hello,

After the pandemic's prolonged break, I have been credentialed for the 2021 annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology. 

This meeting, which
I covered in 2011 for the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, will be conducted virtually.

I hope to post additional material regarding important news from the meeting in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for your interest. 

~John Otrompke

John_Otrompke@yahoo.com