Numerous reports have assessed the neuropsychological
functioning of medically asymptomatic HIV-1 infected men.
However, to date there have been no published studies of
the neuropsychological functioning of asymptomatic HIV-1
infected women, even though women represent the fastest-growing
demographic group of HIV-1 infected individuals. In this
investigation, 31 women (17 asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive,
14 seronegative) were administered a battery of neurocognitive
and neuropsychiatric instruments. Participants in both
groups were matched for age, education, months since injection
drug use, and substance use. Group comparisons revealed
no significant differences in any of the neurocognitive
or neuropsychiatric measures. The results of this preliminary
study suggest that clinically significant differences in
neurobehavioral function are unlikely in medically asymptomatic
HIV-1 infected women compared to seronegative controls.
However, additional studies are needed with larger sample
sizes and with careful attention to possible confounding
or masking variables. (JINS, 1998, 4,
172–178.)