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Signs & Symptoms of Dementia From AIDS

A decline in mental status is a common complication of AIDS. Specific symptoms are different in each person. They may be part of a disorder called AIDS dementia complex (ADC). When the symptoms become severe enough to interfere with daily living, a diagnosis of dementia may be made.

ADC often occurs when the CD4+ count falls to less than 200 cells per microliter. CD4 cells protect your body from infection. Antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases the frequency of ADC from 30 to 60 percent of people who have HIV to less than 20 percent. HAART can also improve the mental functioning in people who already have ADC.

  1. Cognitive Problems

    • Cognitive problems, which include, memory loss, speech deficits, poor judgment and inability to concentrate, are often the first symptoms a person with ADC will notice. In order to live with these problems, a person with ADC may have to make lists in order to remember everyday tasks. Because he has difficulty remembering phone numbers or appointments, he should have lists to remember them as well. A person with ADC may need the help of a caregiver to help him organize important information. People with ADC may forget in mid-sentence what is being talking about. They have slowed thinking. In other words, it takes them longer to understand what you are saying to them and then answer your question or respond to your statement. It takes them longer to complete complicated tasks. Because of their poor concentration, they may become irritable. In addition, people with ADC have poor judgment.

    Motor Impaiement

    • As ADC develops in a person with AIDS, her hand-eye coordination is negatively affected. Because of this, her handwriting changes for the worse. Often, it is difficult to read. Also as ADC progresses, the victim may have trouble walking for several reasons. Her gait might be off and she may not be able to keep his balance. She also may also lose the feeling in her legs and not be able to control them. Leg stiffness and slowed movements may happen as well. Muscle weakness affects her motor skills. She may frequently drop things because of this. Her eyesight may become worse. She also could lose control of her bladder. Motor impairment is not uncommon in early ADC.

    Personality Changes

    • Behavioral changes in ADC are not understood and defined. People with ADC may become apathetic. That is, they may develop an egocentric attitude so that they do not care about other people. Ultimately, they do not care about themselves either. In addition, they may become depressed, or they may have loss of mental and emotional control. They have very little impulse control as well. This can be terribly frightening for most people whether they have ADC or not. Persons with ADC become socially isolated because of all their problems. Because mood changes are common with ADC, caregivers may encounter resistance while they are trying to help, and must be persistent in trying to help because the person with ADC has little or no control over his actions.

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