HIV-associated dementia (HAD)

HIV-associated dementia (HAD), a usually rapidly progressive dementia that is the primary manifestation of encephalopathy caused by human immunodeficiency virus type I infection. It is marked by a variety of cognitive, motor, and behavioral abnormalities, including loss of retentive memory, inattentiveness, language disorders, apathy, incoordination, and ataxia. As the disease progresses, paraplegia, urinary and bowel incontinence, abulia, and mutism may occur. Survival after the onset of dementia is usually 3 to 6 months but is occasionally longer.