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| National News |
Aids 'causes brain damage'
11/10/2005
A new US study has found that the Aids causes brain damage and antiretroviral drugs do not slow down the loss of brain tissue.
A
team of researchers from the University of California and the
University of Pittsburgh produced three-dimensional brain scans of 26
Aids patients and found the virus had caused a loss of 15 per cent in
brain tissue at the top of the brain and the back.
These
areas of the brain control motor, language and judgement and correlate
with physical symptoms such as slower reflexes and impaired
coordination.
Paul Thompson, lead author of the report, said: "Two big surprises came out of this study.
"First, that Aids is selective in how it attacks the brain. Second, drug therapy does not appear to slow the damage.
"The brain provides a sanctuary for HIV where most drugs cannot follow."
This
study is the first to uncover the reason for many of the symptoms that
come with Aids, such as why the disease causes motor skills to
deteriorate.
It is hoped the discovery may lead to the
development of a drug that not only halts the attack on the immune
system, but also the brain.
Mr Thompson added: "Even though antiretroviral drugs rescue the immune system, Aids is still stalking the brain.
"A
protective barrier prevents drugs from entering the brain, transforming
it into a reservoir where HIV can multiply and attack cells unchecked."
The Terrence Higgins Trust has warned that although the
results of the study are interesting more work and evidence is needed
before any drugs could be produced.
Rod Watson of the trust
said: "This study is the only research of its kind at the moment and
we'd like to see it replicated before further action is taken."
But
he added that the report offers "a lot of promise to people with HIV",
saying that the trust knew of a number of Aids victims who suffered
from dementia.
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
© 1998-2005 DeHavilland Information Services plc. All rights reserved.
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