Correlatos Eletrofisiológicos e Comportamentais de Distúrbios Neurocognitivos Associados ao HIV: Alterações na Frequência Gama e em Tarefas Cognitivas

Abstract

Cognitive impairments caused by HIV infection are well documented in the literature. The present study investigated the existence of electrophysiological and cognitive alterations in adult individuals living with HIV (PVHIV) in antiretroviral therapy, giving a greater focus to the change in the gamma frequency (30-45hz). A sample consisted of 16 participants in the experimental group (adults living with the HIV virus) and 10 participants in the control group (healthy adults). All participants were submitted the electroencephalogram with open eyes, at rest, and to neuropsychological assessment consisting of memory/learning tests, attention, language, information processing speed, working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control and visuoconstruction. The average amplitude at frequency range (30-45 Hz) in patients increased in relation to the control group, in all cerebral poles (frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital); more specifically in the right frontal regions, central and left posterior midline. Also, the mean frequency of delta (temporal pole), theta (frontal and parietal pole), alpha (frontal, temporal and occipital) and beta (frontal, temporal and parietal) showed significant increase. In neuropsychological tests, only cognitive function of information processing speed and the cognitive examination of Addenbrook (revised version – ACE-R) as a brief screening tool for the identification of cognitive impairments associated with HIV differentiate participants with HIV from healthy controls. Unlike the control group, PVHIV did not present a correlation of the gamma power with the performance ins Tests of attention (TMT-A), Language Verbal Fluency – Animal category) and Operating Memory (Dígitos – WAIS-III). The importance of using EEG for early detection of cognitive damage associated with HIV has been confirmed. Also has been confirmed that changes in gamma frequency may be a biomarker of cognitive alterations caused by virus infection.