Recruiting

Understanding thinking and memory changes in people living with HIV

Plain-English translation of NCT01875588 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This is a 20-year research study designed to understand how HIV affects the brain and thinking abilities, even when HIV is well-controlled with medications. Researchers will follow about 500 people with HIV and 250 people without HIV, using memory tests, brain imaging, and blood work to track changes over time and learn more about how the brain responds to HIV infection.

Although modern HIV medications have made the most severe forms of brain-related complications much less common, many people with HIV still experience thinking and memory problems. Researchers don't yet fully understand why this happens or how to prevent it, so this study aims to fill that gap by carefully tracking brain health over many years.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you are able to read, speak, and understand English at a seventh-grade level or higher
you are willing to participate for up to 20 years
if you have HIV: you have been on HIV medications continuously for at least one year AND your HIV viral load has been undetectable (below 50 copies) for at least one year
you are able and willing to give informed consent to participate

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a current brain infection (such as toxoplasmosis or CNS lymphoma) that hasn't fully treated and resolved
you have other conditions that affect thinking or memory, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or untreated sleep apnea
you have had a serious head injury with loss of consciousness lasting more than 30 minutes
you have severe, unstable psychiatric illness that could interfere with study participation

What participation looks like

You would visit the research center yearly for up to 10 years for screening and ongoing assessments. Each visit includes memory and thinking tests, blood and urine samples, and brain MRI scans. Some participants may be offered additional optional tests like a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or PET/CT imaging. The study is designed to follow you over time to see how your brain health changes and to help researchers better understand how HIV affects thinking and memory.

Understanding thinking and memory changes in people living with HIV

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)