Exercise may boost brain health in HIV-infected adults

Regular exercise can give a significant mental boost to people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a disease of the human immune system by infection with no effective cure for the moment, a U.S. study said Tuesday. Researchers from the University of California at San Diego reported in the Journal of NeuroVirology that HIV-infected adults who exercise suffered significantly less neurocognitive impairment compared with those who do not exercise. In their study, 335 community-dwelling HIV-infected people were asked how much exercise they undertook during the previous 72 hours, and the persons were classified into those who engaged in significant exercise and those who did not. Seven cognitive areas commonly affected by HIV were tested, including verbal fluency, working memory, speed of information processing, learning, recall, executive function and motor function. The researchers found that HIV-infected adults who exercise were approximately half as likely to show signs of neurocognitive impairment as compared to those who do not. The participants also had better working memory and could process information faster than patients who follow a sedentary lifestyle. The major benefit of exercise to the brain seems to be the reduction of neurocognitive risk factors, such as high blood pressure and abnormally high levels of lipids in the blood, they said. "Exercise as a modifiable lifestyle behavior may reduce or potentially prevent neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected persons," lead author David Moore with the University of California at San Diego said in a statement. "Physical exercise, together with other modifiable lifestyle factors such as education, social engagement, cognitive stimulation and diet could be fruitful interventions to support people living with HIV," Moore said. According to the study, despite recent advances in antiretroviral treatment, impaired brain functioning is a reality faced by nearly half of all people living with HIV. This ranges from asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, to more pronounced deficits that interfere with daily functioning, such as problems with financial management, driving and taking medication regularly.