Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity
Ellis RJ, Vaida F, Hu K, et al. (2025). The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Summary
A six-month phase 2 randomised open-label trial testing whether reducing abdominal obesity with tesamorelin improves neurocognitive performance in people with HIV. Waist circumference fell more in the tesamorelin group than in the standard-of-care group and IGF-1 rose, but neurocognitive performance did not differ significantly between the groups, and IGF-1 changes did not track with cognitive change. The authors note the study was underpowered and had no placebo arm, and conclude there is no clear cognitive benefit from short-term abdominal fat reduction with the drug.