An individual who is HIV positive or has a very weak immune system is at greater risk of developing HIV Dementia for the HIV infection inside the body can attack the nerve cells in the brain and result in reduced cognitive powers, impaired judgment, poor concentration, withdrawal, forgetfulness, loss of memory and also psychosis and mania in advanced stages.

In medical parlance, it is called AIDS Dementia Complex and even relatively healthy HIV positive individuals are at risk of contracting it.

• Forgetfulness
• Lack of concentration
• Long term and short term loss of memory
• Withdrawal
• Impaired thinking abilities
• Reduction in attention span
• Psychosis
• Mania
• Altered personality
• Blurred or hazy vision
• Impaired judgment
• Poor coordination
• Apathy
• Irritability
• Paraparesis
• Loss of bowel and bladder control

At first the symptoms may be pretty subtle but with time they can become worse.

To identify any neurological abnormality brain scans are conducted.

To ascertain the extent of the disease, the patient may be given coordination tests and mental acuity rests by the doctor.

The HIV virus will attack the nerve cells in the brain, which will lead to AIDS Dementia. So a person who carries the HIV virus may contract AIDS Dementia. As said earlier even comparatively healthy people with HIV positive status can fall prey to it. At times, the immune system has to grow very weak for the symptoms to surface properly.

Let me clear up a misconception. Both Alzheimer's disease and HIV/AIDS dementia share identical symptoms, but the diseases are not the same.

Delirium and dementia also aren't the same though they appear similar.

Chronic central nervous system infections may be sometimes pin pointed as the cause of HIV dementia.