News and Multimedia Featuring DAR
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Intervention Reduces Likelihood of Developing Postpartum Anxiety and Depression by More Than 70%• Press Release
Results from a large clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health show that an intervention for anxiety provided to pregnant women living in Pakistan significantly reduced the likelihood of the women developing moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, or both six weeks after birth.
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Decades of Dedication and Collaboration: Unraveling the HIV Mystery• Feature Story
In celebration of NIMHs 75th anniversary, we reflect on decades of work by the institute to understand and eradicate HIV.
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Blocking HIV Enzyme Reduces Infectivity and Slows Viral Rebound• Research Highlight
In this NIMH-funded study, researchers developed a compound that blocked an enzyme critical for forming HIV particles, which stopped the virus from correctly forming and becoming infectious.
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Day 2 - Pharmacy-Centered HIV Research: Current Landscape and Future Frontiers• Video
Researchers, pharmacists and pharmacy professionals, community members, and federal partners discussed research opportunities in how pharmacies are used to provide HIV testing, prevention, and care.
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Day 1 - Pharmacy-Centered HIV Research: Current Landscape and Future Frontiers• Video
Researchers, pharmacists and pharmacy professionals, community members, and federal partners discussed research opportunities in how pharmacies are used to provide HIV testing, prevention, and care.
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HIV Can Persist for Years in Myeloid Cells of People on Antiretroviral Therapy• Press Release
A subset of white blood cells, known as myeloid cells, can harbor HIV in people who have been virally suppressed for years on antiretroviral therapy, according to findings from a small study supported by the National Institutes of Health.
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Breaking Down Barriers to HIV Medication Access• Research Highlight
Researchers investigated whether home delivery of ART for a modest fee could help improve ART access and use, finding it resulted in increased viral suppression in participants compared with clinic-based medication distribution.
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Long-acting antiretroviral therapy suppresses HIV among people with unstable housing, mental illnesses, substance use disorder• Press Release
A long-acting antiretroviral treatment given every four to eight weeks, and delivered with comprehensive support services, suppressed HIV in people who were previously not virologically suppressed.
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Barriers and Supports to HIV Prevention Among Young Women in Kenya• Research Highlight
In a qualitative study supported by NIMH, researchers identified barriers and supports to Kenyan women’s use of PrEP, a highly effective medication to reduce HIV transmission.
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T Cells Help HIV Enter and Persist in the Brain• Research Highlight
A recent NIMH-supported study sheds light on the role of a unique set of T cells in trafficking HIV infection into the brain and mediating the virus’ persistence there.
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Macrophage Infection by HIV: Implications for Pathogenesis and Cure: Day Two• Video
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard conducted a virtual meeting, Macrophage Infection by HIV: Implications for Pathogenesis and Cure, from October 13-14, 2021. This video is Day 2.
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Macrophage Infection by HIV: Implications for Pathogenesis and Cure: Day One• Video
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard conducted a virtual meeting, Macrophage Infection by HIV: Implications for Pathogenesis and Cure, from October 13-14, 2021. This video is Day 1.
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Researchers Use Exosome-Based Strategy to Block HIV in Mice• Press Release
In this NIMH-funded study, researchers used exosomes to deliver novel protein into the cells of mice infected with HIV. The protein attached to HIV’s genetic material and prevented it from replicating, resulting in reduced levels of HIV in the bone marrow, spleen, and brain.
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Partner Violence and Elevated HIV Viral Load in South African Women• Research Highlight
New analysis suggests an association between intimate partner violence and elevated viral loads among postpartum women in South Africa.
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Neurologic and Psychiatric Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Meeting: Day 2• Video
The NIMH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and National Institute on Aging conducted a virtual meeting on the neurologic and psychiatric effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Neurologic and Psychiatric Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Meeting: Day 1• Video
The NIMH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and National Institute on Aging conducted a virtual meeting on the neurologic and psychiatric effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Human Mobility & HIV Workshop - May 25, 2021• Video
NIMH convened a two-day virtual workshop on human mobility and HIV in diverse global populations from May 24-25, 2021. This is the May 25th video.
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Human Mobility & HIV Workshop - May 24, 2021• Video
NIMH convened a two-day virtual workshop on human mobility and HIV in diverse global populations from May 24-25, 2021. This is the May 24th video.
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HIV Related Intersectional Stigma Research Advances and Opportunities Workshop• Video
NIMH and the NIH Office of AIDS Research held a three-phase workshop aimed at advancing HIV prevention and treatment science, informing the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, and bolstering HIV efforts worldwide.
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HIV-Related Intersectional Stigma Research Advances and Opportunities Workshop (Virtual)• Video
On July 13, the National Institute of Mental Health held a virtual meeting to help promote HIV prevention and treatment science, as well as inform the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative (EHE) and HIV efforts worldwide through furthering HIV-related intersectional stigma and discrimination research advances and opportunities.
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Brain Cells Can Harbor and Spread HIV Virus to the Body• Press Release
Researchers funded by NIMH have found that astrocytes, a type of brain cell, can harbor HIV and then spread the virus to immune cells that traffic out of the brain and into other organs.
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Novel Method Identifies Patients at Risk for HIV Who May Benefit From Prevention Strategies• Press Release
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of using algorithms that analyze electronic health records (EHRs) to help physicians identify patients at risk for HIV who may benefit from preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which significantly reduces the risk of getting HIV.
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Potential Source of HIV Persistence Confirmed• Science Update
Scientists have shown that a class of immune cells not thought to be a primary reservoir for HIV can harbor the virus even following antiretroviral treatment (ART).
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Biomarker Tracks Accelerated HIV-Associated Aging• Science Update
By measuring a molecular signature of aging, researchers have found that HIV infection accelerates aging, adding an average of five years to someone’s biological age.
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Experimental Combination Surprises with Anti-HIV Effectiveness• Science Update
A compound developed by NIH-supported scientists to protect the nervous system from HIV surprised researchers by augmenting the effectiveness of an investigational antiretroviral drug beyond anything expected.
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HIV Can Spread Early, Evolve in Patients’ Brains• Press Release
HIV can replicate independently and early in the illness process, genetically evolving differently than in the periphery.
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NIH-funded Study Finds Community-based Efforts Increase HIV Testing, Prompt Behavior Change• Press Release
An international study supported by NIMH reported today that community efforts, in comparison to standard clinical testing and counseling, yielded greater testing and lower HIV incidence in high-risk individuals.
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NIH-funded Study Defines Treatment Window for HIV-positive Children Infected at Birth• Press Release
HIV-positive children older than 1 year who were treated after showing moderate HIV-related symptoms did not experience greater cognitive or behavior problems compared to peers treated when signs of their infection were still mild, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
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HIV Variants in Spinal Fluid May Hold Clues in Development of HIV-related Dementia• Science Update
NIMH-funded researchers found two variants of HIV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infected study participants that were genetically distinct from the viral variants found in the participants’ blood. The study, published October 6, 2011, in the journal PLoS Pathogens, suggests these CSF variants may help to inform research on the development and treatment of cognitive problems related to HIV infection.
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HIV-Infected Astrocytes Disrupt Blood-Brain Barrier, Contribute to Cognitive Impairment• Science Update
Astrocytes, a type of support cell in the brain, that are infected with HIV show abnormal connections and functioning that disrupt the blood-brain barrier, according to an NIMH-funded study.
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Focusing on School Attendance Reduces HIV Risk Among Orphaned Teens• Science Update
A comprehensive school support program effectively reduced risk factors associated with infection with HIV among teens who had lost one or both parents, according to early results from a pilot study funded by NIMH. The paper was published online ahead of print on February 17, 2011, in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
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Children Carry Emotional Burden of AIDS Epidemic in China• Science Update
Having a parent with HIV/AIDS or losing one or both parents to the illness leads to poorer mental health among children in China, according to a recent study funded in part by NIMH. Published in the November–December 2009 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, the study also emphasizes the need to develop culturally and developmentally appropriate measures and interventions for diverse populations.
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Bundling HIV Prevention with Prenatal Care Reduces Risky Sex Behaviors Among At-risk Mothers• Science Update
An HIV-prevention program targeted at women receiving prenatal care may effectively reduce risks for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned future pregnancies, according to NIMH-funded researchers. Bundling such interventions into existing health care models, like prenatal care, also may be more accessible to those who may not have the time, interest, or resources to attend a stand-alone HIV prevention program. Changing the way prenatal care is provided also may create sustainable advantages in reproductive health for all at-risk women. The study was published in the November 2009 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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Teaching Teens About Abstinence May Delay Sexual Activity, Reduce Risk Behaviors• Science Update
Teens who received a behavioral intervention centered on abstinence were more likely to delay first sexual contact than teens who received a control intervention focusing on general health promotion, according to an NIMH-funded study. Though differing from federally funded abstinence-only programs, the researchers describe how an abstinence-based intervention may help delay sexual activity among adolescents in the February 2010 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
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One Subtype of HIV Increases Risk of HIV-associated Dementia• Science Update
In a study of HIV-related cognitive impairment in Uganda, people with HIV subtype D were more likely than those with the other subtypes to have HIV-associated dementia (HAD), according to NIMH-funded researchers. This study, published in the September 1, 2009, issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, is the first to show that HIV subtype may affect a person’s risk for developing HAD.
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Focusing Efforts on Early-Stage HIV Interventions May Help Prevent Spread of Disease• Science Update
Screening and early intervention with people in the earliest stages of HIV infection may reduce the spread of the disease, according to NIMH-funded researchers. A series of five papers from a small, multisite study were published online ahead of print in June 2009 in the journal AIDS and Behavior.
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Web-based Programs Encourage Safer Sex Behaviors among Men at Risk for HIV/AIDS• Science Update
A single-session, online, multimedia intervention effectively reduced risky sexual behaviors among young men who have sex with men, a group at high risk for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Such low-cost programs may help reverse the steady rise in HIV diagnoses among this population.
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Brief, Clinic-Based, Peer-led Intervention Helps Reduce Subsequent STDs in African American Men• Science Update
A brief, one-time intervention delivered by a trained peer health advisor was an effective and low-cost method for reducing new infections among young, heterosexual, African American men diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), according to an NIMH-funded study. Such programs may help reduce STD-related health disparities, which currently affect a disproportionate number of African American men in the United States. The study was published in the April 2009 supplemental issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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HIV Prevention Program Gets a Boost From NIMH Recovery Act Funds• Press Release
Developing interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among heterosexual men, couples and ethnically diverse populations continues to be complex and challenging. To help address this issue, NIMH awarded a two-year grant to David Pérez-Jiménez, Ph.D., at the University of Puerto Rico, to support the adaptation and assessment of an HIV and other sexually transmitted infection intervention designed for young, heterosexual Latino couples. This grant will use funds allocated to NIMH through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote economic recovery and spur advances in science and health.
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Youths Exposed to HIV Before Birth Have Higher Chance of Developing Psychiatric Disorders• Science Update
Youths who were exposed to HIV before birth, especially those who were born HIV positive, have a high chance of developing psychiatric disorders, according to an NIMH-funded study published online ahead of print February 27, 2009, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
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Possible HIV Prevention Therapy Shows Promise, But At a Significant Cost• Science Update
A therapy that shows promise in preventing HIV infection could significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection among high-risk groups, but the cost may be substantial unless drug costs can be reduced, according to a study published online ahead of print February 4, 2009, in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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Intervention Helps Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior Among Homeless HIV-positive Adults• Science Update
An NIMH-funded program already shown to reduce risky sexual and substance abuse behavior among HIV-infected adults also appears to be effective in improving the lives of HIV-infected homeless or near-homeless adults, according to a new report.
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Viral Genetic Underpinnings of HIV-associated Dementia Explored• Science Update
A new study identifies differences between genetic variants of HIV that are associated with HIV-associated dementia (HAD).
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HIV-associated Neurological Disease Prevalent in Asia-Pacific Region• Science Update
A new study finds a significant rate of HIV-related neurological disease among HIV-positive populations living in the Asian-Pacific region.
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Couples-based Intervention May Limit HIV Transmission in African Countries• Science Update
A shift to a couples-based intervention for married and cohabiting couples in urban Zambia and Rwanda could prevent up to 60 percent of new HIV infections that would otherwise occur, according to an NIMH-funded study published June 27, 2008, in The Lancet.
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HIV-positive Survivors of Sexual Abuse Who Receive Coping Intervention Less Likely to Engage in Unprotected Sex• Science Update
HIV-positive people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior if they receive a group intervention designed to help them cope with their traumatic history, according to an NIMH-funded study published April 1, 2008, in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
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Family-Centered Intervention Effectively Reduces Risky Behavior Among Hispanic Youth• Science Update
Science UpdateDecember 20, 2007 Family-centered Intervention Effectively Reduces Risky Behavior Among Hispanic YouthA family-centered program that improves parent-child dynamics and family functioning is more effective at discouraging Hispanic youth from engaging in risky behavior than programs that target specific behaviors, according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
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Researchers Suggest Updating Criteria for HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders• Science Update
After 10 years since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the criteria for classifying HIV-related neurocognitive disorders may need to be revised and updated, according to a working group designated by NIMH and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study the issue. The study was published October 30, 2007, in the journal Neurology.
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HIV Treatment May Help Reduce Severity of Mental Impairment in Children with HIV Infection• Science Update
During the first few years of life, children born with HIV infection are most susceptible to central nervous system (CNS) disease, and can develop impaired cognitive, language, motor and behavioral functioning. However, NIH-funded researchers have found that among children with HIV infection, treatment with a protease inhibitor (PI)- based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helped protect against cognitive and motor difficulties compared to a control group of age-matched children who were born to HIV-infected mothers but who did not contract the virus themselves (e.g., HIV-exposed).