Font Size
A
A
A

Dementia Due to HIV Infection (cont.)

Dementia Due to HIV Infection Causes

AIDS dementia complex is caused by the HIV virus itself, not by the opportunistic infections that occur commonly in the course of the disease. We do not know exactly how the virus damages brain cells.
 
HIV may affect the brain through several mechanisms. Viral proteins may damage nerve cells directly or by infecting inflammatory cells in the brain and spinal cord. HIV may then induce these cells to damage and disable nerve cells.



Next: Dementia Due to HIV Infection Symptoms »

Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

WebMD Daily

Get breaking medical news.

Are You Depressed? Take the Quiz


Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Dementia Due to HIV Disease »

Physicians frequently encounter neurologic and psychiatric complications in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Read More on eMedicine »

Medical Dictionary