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The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features
Navia BA, Jordan BD, Price RW.. Annals of neurology, 1986-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Of 70 autopsied patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 46 suffered progressive dementia that was frequently accompanied by motor and behavioral dysfunction. Impaired memory and concentration with psychomotor slowing represented the most common early presentation of this disorder, but in nearly one half of the patients either motor or behavioral changes predominated. Early motor deficits commonly included ataxia, leg weakness, tremor, and loss of fine-motor coordination, while behavioral disturbances were manifested most commonly as apathy or withdrawal, but occasionally as a frank organic psychosis. The course of the disease was steadily progressive in most patients, and at times was punctuated by an abrupt acceleration. However, in 20% of patients a more protracted indolent course was observed. In the most advanced stage of this disease, patients exhibited a stereotyped picture of severe dementia, mutism, incontinence, paraplegia, and in some cases, myoclonus. The high incidence and unique clinical presentation of this AIDS dementia complex is consistent with the emerging concept that this complication is due to direct brain infection by the retrovirus that causes AIDS.
Key findings
- Early motor deficits commonly included ataxia, leg weakness, tremor, and loss of fine-motor coordination, while behavioral disturbances were manifested most commonly as apathy or withdrawal, but occasionally as a frank organic psychosis.
- The course of the disease was steadily progressive in most patients, and at times was punctuated by an abrupt acceleration.
- However, in 20% of patients a more protracted indolent course was observed.
- In the most advanced stage of this disease, patients exhibited a stereotyped picture of severe dementia, mutism, incontinence, paraplegia, and in some cases, myoclonus.
- The high incidence and unique clinical presentation of this AIDS dementia complex is consistent with the emerging concept that this complication is due to direct brain infection by the retrovirus that causes AIDS.
Why it matters
This paper describes the clinical features of dementia in patients with AIDS, including memory and concentration problems, motor and behavioral changes, and a progressive course. It concerns AIDS dementia complex and does not address treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Annals of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Annals of Neurology: journal h-index 437 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1986 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,667 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 39.7 citations a year over 42 year(s) since 1986 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 23 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Richard W. Price: h-index 84 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: institution h-index 1,931 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 3729308) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Navia, B. A., Jordan, B. D., & Price, R. W. (1986). The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features. Annals of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410190602
Vancouver
Navia BA, Jordan BD, Price RW. The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features. Annals of neurology. 1986. doi:10.1002/ana.410190602. PMID: 3729308.
BibTeX
@article{navia1986-3729308,
author = {Navia, B. A. and Jordan, B. D. and Price, R. W.},
title = {{The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features}},
journal = {Annals of neurology},
year = {1986},
doi = {10.1002/ana.410190602},
pmid = {3729308},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410190602}
}
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