For years people have struggled
with the emotional and physical aspects of HIV. But with modern day technology
and medication, people are able to live (for the most part) long and normal lives.
Although these medications can lead to a fairly normal life, some recent studies
have shown that patients with HIV have similar side-effects as early
onset Alzheimer’s. But the big question remains: is it the medication given to
help control HIV the problem, or is it HIV itself?
In the article HIV-related memory loss shares similarity with Alzheimer’s by Katherine
Harmon, ideas and evidence are shared that HIV has begun to show similar side
effects as early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Although this HIV and Alzheimer’s
disease are different conditions, similar connections are being made. For
instance both HIV and Alzheimer’s patients exhibit cognitive dysfunction. In Alzheimer’s disease, the spinal fluid also
shows low levels of beta amyloid protein, much like some cases of HIV. However
one major difference between the two is that the brain tissue in each disease
is significantly different from the other. For example the article states that,
when comparing the two brains, the patient with early onset Alzheimer’s disease
has excess amount of plaques and tangles characteristics of Alzheimer’s while
the patients’ brain with HIV does not. Another controversy mentioned in her
article is that the cause of the cognitive dysfunction in HIV may be due to the
virus itself or to the antiretroviral drugs to help control the virus. Although
this is one interesting point, one scientist noted that cognitive dysfunction
has been seen in HIV patients who have not received medical treatment for the
virus. This suggests that the virus itself may very well cause the dysfunction.
Due to these two controversies further research needs to be done.
After reading
this article, it really solidified how much HIV can impact a person. I always
knew that HIV came with harsh side effects, both physically and emotionally,
and that people have struggled with it for years. However, I had no idea that
HIV could go as far as impacting your memory. Knowing this just increases the
importance of my values to stay abstinent until marriage. Though I am often
made fun of for this value of mine, I feel better knowing that I am reducing my
risk of contracting HIV and that I am keeping myself farther away from a life
changing and life threatening disease.
To read the article please click here.
