Functional Imaging Reserve in NeuroHIV

This proposal systematically characterizes brain efficiency and recruitment in virologically
suppressed persons living with HIV (PLWH) and demographically similar HIV uninfected (HIV-)
controls. This proposal collects advanced functional neuroimaging that provide critical
information about cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain connectivity (functional connectivity
strength; FCS); quantitative measures of immune dysfunction in the blood and cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) (immune activation and immune exhaustion); and neuropsychological performance
testing. This overall goal of this proposal is to delineate the interplay between dysfunction
in frontal networks and recruitment of compensatory networks that underlie the
neuropsychiatric symptoms seen in PLWH.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 20 to 80 years old

- documented HIV infection for at least 1 year or confirmed HIV - status

- PLWH must be on stable cART regimen for at least 12 months with undetectable plasma
HIV RNA (less than 50 copies per mL)

- at least 9 years of education

- able to provide informed consent

- if female, a negative pregnancy test and not breast feeding

- able to undergo an MRI scan

Exclusion Criteria:

- significant neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, head injury with loss of
consciousness for more than 5 minutes, developmental learning disability)

- active uncontrolled Axis I psychiatric disorder according to the DSM 5

- current or history of substance use disorder (including, but not limited to
amphetamines, cocaine, alcohol, opiates, and barbiturates)

- prescribed blood thinners

- allergic to lidocaine or similar anesthetic

- history of any bleeding disorder

- contraindication to MRI scanning (e.g. claustrophobia, pacemaker, etc.)

- pregnant or breastfeeding