ARCH II Study (Alcohol Research Center on HIV Study II)

This study is being done to learn about the interaction of alcohol consumption and HIV on brain function. The proposed study will have two broad objectives. The first is to incorporate functional neuroimaging (FMRI) approaches, along with additional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) methods that will enable a delineation in both functional and cerebral metabolic disturbances affecting specific functional brain systems that are associated with the interaction of ethanol (ETOH) consumption on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated brain dysfunction. Recent data indicate that HIV infected patients with heavy ETOH consumption have FMRI abnormalities and exhibit alterations on other neuroimaging measures compared to moderate drinkers and people who do not drink at all. The second objective is to examine the extent to which reductions in ETOH consumption among heavy drinkers with HIV infection result from a motivational intervention. The findings from this study will provide important information on how heavy ETOH and HIV interact to affect the brain functional responsiveness, and the extent of improvement that might be gained by reducing heavy ETOH use.