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Dendritic and synaptic damage (without frank neuronal loss) may be seen in milder human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐related cognitive disorders. Synapse volume estimates, performed by stereological methods, could enhance the ability to detect subtle neuronal changes that may accompany cognitive impairment in HIV infection. For the present study, synaptic density and neuronal number were assessed by combined stereology/confocal microscopy and these measures were then correlated with ante‐mortem levels of cognitive performance in AIDS patients. Three‐dimensional stereological measures showed a significant correlation between reduced synaptic density and poor neuropsychological performance. To evaluate the specificity of any observed associations, additional variables including viral burden, astrogliosis and number of calbindin‐immunoreactive neurons were measured. Factor analysis of a set of neuropathological variables revealed two factors; one defined by synaptic density and volume fraction, calbindin pyramidal neuronal densities and viral burden; the second by astrocytosis and calbindin interneuron density. Only the first factor correlated significantly with neuropsychological functioning during life.