CSF markers of AD-related pathology relate specifically to memory impairment in older people with HIV: a pilot study

Given the co-occurrence of memory impairment in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer’s disease (aMCI/AD), biomarkers are needed that can disentangle these conditions among people with HIV (PWH). We assessed whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of AD could help in this effort by determining their relationship to learning and memory deficits versus cognitive deficits more characteristic of HAND than aMCI/AD (processing speed and complex visual/motor coordination) among 31 older PWH. CSF amyloid-β 42 phosphorylated-tau, amyloid-β 40 /amyloid-β 42 and phosphorylated-tau/amyloid-β 42 ratio related to learning/memory performance but not HAND-related deficits, suggesting that these biomarkers may have utility in disentangling aMCI/AD from HAND.