BMC Neurology is now welcoming submissions to a new Collection focused on the neurological complications of HIV infection. This new Collection will provide a global research update inclusive of neuroHIV management and research addressing models of care. The Collection will consider submissions regarding a wide range of potential central nervous system (CNS) complications (ranging from mild forms of neurocognitive impairment to more severe conditions such as HIV-associated dementia). Submissions focusing on neuroHIV across the lifespan and among key populations of interest (e.g., transgender individuals) are encouraged. Further, submissions concerning the underlying mechanisms (including comorbidities, sex differences, aging, and health disparities) and their impact on brain health, as well as submissions for improving patient care and developing targeted interventions, are also welcome.
In the era of long-term HIV management, people living with HIV remain susceptible to developing neurological complications because of the chronicity of HIV infection and the aging of the HIV population. Neurological complications, even in their mild forms, can significantly impact one’s quality of life, everyday function, and overall well-being, while cumulative risk factors for cognitive decline can lead to severe neurological manifestations. The reasons and mechanisms underlying the persistence of neurological complications in people living with HIV despite the widespread use of antiretrovirals are highly topical for the global HIV population and are also relevant to clinical populations with chronic and treatable comorbidities. In both contexts, recent research has shown that systemic and CNS chronic immune activation leads to chronic inflammation and cerebrovascular injury, both of which are major risk factors for neurodegeneration in older age. In the context of HIV, the potential contribution of antiretroviral drug side-effects to neurological complications and the role of the persistence of the virus in viral reservoirs also warrants special consideration. In addition, the issues of multimorbidity (age- and non-age-related, mental health), sex, and health disparities that impact brain health represent major challenges to understanding the mechanisms of neurological complications in people living with HIV. In this context, the development of tailored approaches to the diagnosis, management and treatment, as well as supportive and preventative models of care for the affected individuals is increasingly important.
The goal of this Collection is to provide an updated overview of the most recent research on mild to severe forms of neurological complications of HIV infection to advance our understanding and improve patient outcomes with relevance to the global HIV population. The collection will include three sections in : (i) mechanisms of neurological manifestations (ii) nature of neurological complications, (iii) management and models of care for the neurological complications in people living with HIV.
Topics of interest to this Collection include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanisms of mild to severe neurological manifestations in people living with HIV. (Viral persistence, immune activation, neuro/inflammation, cerebrovascular injury and neurodegeneration, risk of neurocognitive decline in older people living with HIV)
- Nature of mild to severe neurological manifestations in people living with HIV. (Aging, age-related comorbidities, sex differences, health disparities, mental health, antiretroviral drug side-effects, risk of neurocognitive decline in older people living with HIV)
- Management and models of care for the neurological complications in people living with HIV. (Tailored approaches to diagnosis, pharmacological treatment (HIV brain injury and treatment of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline), and non-pharmacological interventions, clinical management, models of care for people living with HIV and neurological complications of HIV [implementation studies], long-term management of neurological complications in people living with HIV)
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