Neurocognitive dysfunction in people living with HIV (PLWH) is an increasingly critical area of research, driven by the global prevalence of HIV and the chronic nature of the condition made manageable through effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). While ART has significantly extended the lifespan of PLWH, it has not fully resolved challenges within the central nervous system. Limited penetration of antiretroviral drugs across the blood-brain barrier can result in incomplete suppression of HIV in the central nervous system, leading to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Notably, studies show that 26.8% to 46.7% of PLWH over the age of 40 exhibit HAND, with incidence rates rising with age.

Despite extensive research since the early 2000s, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the specific cognitive domains affected in PLWH and the brain mechanisms underlying these impairments. While studies have consistently shown that the overall cognitive ability of PLWH under ART is lower than that of well-controlled HIV-negative individuals, findings vary considerably regarding which cognitive domains are most impacted. Additionally, it remains unclear to what extent the brain mechanisms driving cognitive declines in PLWH overlap with those observed in other populations, such as normally aging individuals or patients with Alzheimer's disease.

This research topic aims to deepen our understanding of HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction by compiling a comprehensive collection of original research articles.
The primary objectives are:
- To elucidate the specific dysfunctions in the nervous system related to HIV.
- To highlight the unique challenges faced by PLWH by comparing these dysfunctions with those observed in other populations.
- To explore the brain regions or networks associated with cognitive impairments in PLWH.
- To investigate the relationships between neurocognitive dysfunction and ART, treatment outcomes, and other clinical measures.

To achieve these objectives, we encourage submissions employing diverse methodologies, including but not limited to:
- Cognitive and behavioral assessments.
- Non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as MRI, PET, and CT.
- Advanced statistical and machine learning analyses on multi-modal data.

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Frontiers in Neurology

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