AIDS: Nervous System Problems

What is AIDS?

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus attacks the immune system, nervous system, and cells in other parts of the body. The cells that are attacked and damaged by the infection stop working right.

How does AIDS affect the nervous system?

AIDS can cause serious nervous system problems. (The nervous system includes your brain, spinal cord, and all other nerves.) These problems can be one of the most challenging aspects of the disease. They can be hard to diagnose and hard to treat. They may happen when:

• HIV infects the nervous system.
• Other viruses, fungi, bacteria, or parasites take advantage of your weakened immune system and infect the nervous system.
• You have AIDS-related cancers.
• You take medicines that affect or damage nerves.

What nervous system problems are caused by AIDS?

Dementia is a common type of mental change caused by the virus. Early symptoms include slowed thinking and poor short-term memory and concentration. Your behavior may change. You may have problems with physical coordination. These changes may make it hard for you to do your job. You may need to quit work unless you can be assigned to something less demanding.

With time you may have trouble caring for yourself and will need to depend on family, friends and in-home help.

Two other common brain problems caused by AIDS are lymphoma and infection with toxoplasma.

• Lymphoma is a cancer of lymph tissue.
• Toxoplasma is a parasite that can be in raw meat or the bowel movements of cats. It can kill patches of tissue in the brain.

Lymphoma and toxoplasma can cause headaches, vision problems, seizures, weakness, and confusion. They are diagnosed with a brain scan, blood tests, and sometimes a brain biopsy.

The AIDS virus may also damage the spinal cord and other nerves. When the spinal cord is damaged you may have leg weakness. You may lose control of your bladder. Damaged nerves can cause weakness, numbness, tingling, and burning pain in your arms or legs. They cannot repair themselves. Even if the AIDS virus is brought under control, the damage may be permanent.

How are nervous system problems treated or prevented?

The antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection may help slow the development of dementia. Antidementia drugs may also help memory loss and confusion.

Central nervous system lymphomas are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

Infection with toxoplasmosis may be prevented by taking the medicines trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole.

How can I take care of myself?

If you have AIDS, you should get medical care right away for any new symptoms, such as:

• a new headache
• changes in memory, concentration, or thinking
• changes in vision
• changes in your ability to move
• severe changes in personality or behavior.

To learn more, call your local AIDS organization or the national CDC-INFO 24-hour hotline at 1-800-232-4636.