HIV had evolved in a way that can protect itself from the human immune system, however scientists have been researching to achieve new findings to either stop or treat AIDS. The p17 matrix protein, which is one of the products of the HIV gene, serves a structural function inside mature HIV particles. This protein might play a key role in the complex network of host- and virus-derived stimulatory factors contributing to create a favourable environment for HIV-1 infection and replication.Patients with HIV may show signs of neuroinflammation and are known to be at an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Neurodegenerative disorders are believed to share common cellular and molecular mechanisms and P17 is now thought to be a key molecule responsible for modulating these processes. In this project the role of p17 in promoting Alzheimer-like plaque formation, neuronal damage, tau phosphorylation, Amyloid-beta cleavage, neurofibrillary tangle formation and endothelial dysfunction associated with vascular dementia is investigated by using the following methods: Immunofluorescence, Immunohistochemistry, Cell culture including assays to examine neuronal health and endothelial angiogenesis and Western blotting to investigate signalling pathways linked to p17. (Slevin et al, 2013)Results showed co-staining of amyloid-β and p17 in human HIV patient neurons and plaques associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Its also showed Immune cell staining of p17 co-staining with amyloid-β. p17 was expressed in blood vessels, plaques and dying neurons. In mouse brain injected with p17, p17 was identified in cortical microvessels co-staining with CD105 and hippocampal neurons co-staining with p-Tau.In endothelial cells, the scratch wound migration assay showed that both p17 and S75 increased significantly in number of cells and distance migrated. Tube like structure formation showed p17 and S75 increased the number of tubes compared to control with those of S75X appearing to be thinner. A spheroid assay demonstrated cells and sprouts were more strongly chemo-attractive in S75X compared to p17. Western blot demonstrated that both p17 and S75X induced phosphorylation of proteins ERK, AKT and EGFR which are known to be involved in angiogenesis.In conclusion, p17 is found in regions of human brain tissue showing evidence of neurodegenration. p17 injected to mouse hippocampus induces Alzheimer’s like symptoms and pathology. p17 and its variant S75X strongly induce angiogenesis in brain endothelial cells suggesting a possible role in vascular dementia.