Lithium improves HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of low-dose oral lithium on the neuropsychological performance of individuals diagnosed with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. DESIGN AND METHODS: The project was a single-arm, open-label, 12-week pilot study at a university-based tertiary care center. The participants were adults who had been diagnosed with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and had been on stable antiretroviral therapy for at least 12 weeks. Conditions that could affect cognition, worsen adherence to study procedures, or increase the risk of lithium adverse reactions were excluded. Twenty-one individuals were screened and eight were enrolled, all of whom completed the study..