HIV meningitis and dementia

The range of CNS complications associated with HIV infection is extremely broad and can be divided into primary neurological illnesses that arise as a direct result of HIV infection of the CNS and secondary illnesses of distinct non-HIV etiology whose incidence may nonetheless be increased or whose course may be modified by the presence of HIV. These secondary illnesses are believed to generally be a consequence of immunosuppression, although it has been suggested that in some cases (e.g., progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) other factors related to HIV itself may play a role.