Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that increasing NAAG levels and modulating gut microbiota can restore cognitive deficits in HIV-infected mice.
These findings suggest new therapeutic pathways for treating HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, which often persist despite effective antiretroviral therapy. By targeting both chemical signaling in the brain and the gut-brain axis, the study explores ways to reverse social and cognitive impairments.
Mei Huang, M.D., Ph.D., and Yannan Li, M.D., Ph.D., presented the research during a neurology and neurosurgery seminar series on April 29, 2026 [1]. The study utilized a murine HIV model to test the efficacy of N-acetylaspartylglutamate, or NAAG. The researchers said that increasing NAAG restored cognitive deficits in the mice [1].
Beyond chemical supplementation, the team investigated the role of the microbiome. The researchers said that targeting gender-specific gut microbiota improved both social and cognitive impairments in mice infected with EcoHIV [1]. This indicates that the relationship between the gut and the brain may differ based on biological sex, requiring tailored therapeutic approaches.
The research was conducted at Johns Hopkins Medicine as part of their ongoing efforts to explore therapeutic approaches for HIV-associated deficits [1, 2]. The findings highlight a dual-pronged approach, combining biochemical restoration with microbiome modulation, to address the complex neurological impacts of the virus.
“Increasing NAAG restores cognitive deficits in a murine HIV model.”
While these results are limited to murine models, they provide a proof-of-concept for treating HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. The emphasis on gender-specific microbiota suggests that future human treatments for HIV-related cognitive decline may need to be personalized by sex to be effective.
