['To analyze the effect of antiretroviral therapy, including drugs that have good penetration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), on neuropsychologic performance.', 'One hundred sixty-five HIV-1-infected patients exposed to a stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen were studied. Neuropsychologic examinations were performed for all patients.', "A total of 50.3% of patients were impaired. In multivariate analysis, older age (for 10-year increase, odds ratio [OR] = 4.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2 to 10.4; P< 0.0001) and higher plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.2; P = 0.021) at testing were independently associated with an increased probability of impaired neurocognitive performance, whereas higher educational level was a protective factor (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.90; P=0.001). A significant linear correlation was observed between the neuropsychologic z score for 8 tests (NPZ8) score, a quantitative parameter of neurocognitive impairment, and CD4 cell count at neuropsychologic testing (R = 0.273, P = 0.001) and between the NPZ8 score and the patient's age (R = 0.288, P = 0.001)."] Do neuroactive antiretroviral drugs influence neurocognitive performance in less advanced HIV-infected patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy?