Towards the Early Diagnosis of Dementia in People with HIV/AIDS Using Bayesian Networks

The high prevalence of people with HIV in some countries can lead to the development of dementia syndromes (HIV-associated dementia). Besides the natural aging process, there is an action of the virus on the Central Nervous System. The neuroinflammation may led to cognitive and functional decline, related to motor disorders. This neurocognitive disorders associated with HIV, are usually called HIV-associated dementia, which implies severe alterations on two or more cognitive domains and mark functional interference with daily living, for example, performance activities, attention deficit, psychomotor slowing, dysdiadochokinesia and spastic gait. Its progression can be rapid and interfere with the motor sphere, due to the myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy, even with the use of the highly active antiretroviral therapy. This study proposes the construction of a model using Bayesian networks to assist specialists in the search for the early diagnosis of dementia in people with HIV. To generate the Bayesian Networks the Netica J-API was used. Results show that the Bayesian Network is an accurate and reliable method for study and support the assistance of HIV infected patients.