Scientists have found that HIV very quickly affects the brain,

It has long been known that HIV-positive people often face problems such as depression and forgetfulness. However, until now, scientists did not know whether this is a consequence of somatic diseases of these people, or the virus is able to affect the brain directly.

Scientists from the University of Stellenbosch studied the brain’s activity of HIV-infected people, and those who were not infected with HIV, by using fMRI. Volunteers performed some tasks stimulating certain areas of the brain, The Deccan Chronicle reports.

HIV-positive participants did not have other health problems; they did not abuse drugs and did not take antiretroviral drugs. The researchers have established that these volunteers performing tasks that required the use of motor skills had the lowered brain’s activity in the region of the striatum.

Source: The Deccan Chronicle.