Slow-oscillation activity is reduced and high frequency activity is elevated in older adults with insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: High-frequency electroencephalographic activity (> 16 Hz activity) is often elevated during nonrapid eye movement sleep among individuals with insomnia, in line with the hyperarousal theory of insomnia. Evidence regarding sleep depth marked by slow-wave activity (< 4 Hz) is more mixed. Distinguishing subcomponents of slow-wave activity (slow-oscillation [< 1 Hz] or delta activity [1-4 Hz)]) may be critical in understanding these discrepancies, given that these oscillations have different neural generators and are functionally distinct. Here we tested the effects of insomnia diagnosis and insomnia treatment on nonrapid eye movement electroencephalography in older adults, distinguishing slow-oscillation and delta power. METHODS: In 93 older adults with insomnia and 71 good sleeper control participants (mean ages 68 years), effects of insomnia and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (insomnia group only) on electroencephalographic spectral power were analyzed. Main effects and interactions with nonrapid eye movement period were assessed for the following frequency bands: slow-oscillation (0.5-1 Hz), delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), sigma (12-16 Hz), and beta (16-32 Hz). RESULTS: Slow-oscillation absolute and relative power were lower in the insomnia group compared with controls. There were no group differences in delta power. Insomnia was also associated with elevated 4-32 Hz absolute and relative power. After cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, absolute sigma and beta activity decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in slow-wave activity in insomnia are specific to the slow-oscillation. Elevated high frequency activity is reduced for sigma and beta power following cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia . These findings inform the pathophysiology of insomnia, including the mechanisms underlying cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in older adults.

HIV gp120 sequence variability associated with HAND in Hispanic Women.

OBJECTIVE: HIV-1 variants with different tropisms are associated with various neuropathologies. This study intends to determine if this correlation is determined by unique viral env sequences. We hypothesize that HIV-1 envelope gene sequence changes are associated with cognition status. METHODS: Viral RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultures derived from HIV-1 infected Hispanic women that had been characterized for HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). RESULTS: Analyses of the C2V4 region of HIV gp120 demonstrated that increased sequence diversity correlates with cognition status as sequences derived from subjects with normal cognition exhibited less diversity than sequences derived from subjects with cognitive impairment. In addition, differences in V3 and V4 loop charges were also noted as well as differences in the N-glycosylation of the V4 region. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the genetic signature within the C2V4 region may contribute to the pathogenesis of HAND. HIV env sequence characteristics for the isolates grouped in milder forms of HAND can provide insightful information of prognostic value to assess neurocognitive status in HIV+ subjects, particularly during the era of highly prevalent milder forms of HAND.