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HIV
Dementia is caused by the HIV virus, the virus that causes
AIDS. The HIV virus attacks and progressively destroying the
immune system. The HIV virus can directly infect the brain
and can also weaken the immune system, allowing other infections
to enter the brain and cause encephalitis.
The resulting brain damage may be visible on MRI as generalized
brain atrophy (shrinkage) and also visibly damaged subcortical
areas. The behavioral symptoms parallel dementia - indeed,
the condition is often called the AIDS-dementia complex. Early
symptoms include memory loss, loss of concentration, and personality
changes. In later stages, there can be confusion and sometimes
psychosis.
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain
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