Healthy Aging Resources

The last 15 years have witnessed a dramatic change in HIV-related epidemiology amidst improvements in treatment and care in China. With proper treatment, HIV is now considered a chronic disease. As a consequence, many people living with HIV (PLWH) now present age-related comorbidities. Thirteen topical issues were reviewed concerning the epidemiology of aging with HIV in mainland China.

Persons with HIV are more likely to have cardiovascular disease because of the residual virally mediated inflammation and side effects of antiretroviral therapy in addition to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The researchers in this study observe gut bacteria and the microbiome to see its impact on those aging with HIV.

Aging Bisexual adults with HIV are a growing but commonly overlooked population. This population has significantly poorer health outcomes compared to aging lesbian and gay adults. Interventions need to take into account the unique factors that impact the health of Bisexual adults than just focus on their Gay and Lesbian peers in order to improve health equity.

This study focuses more generally on those who are aging with a disability and have been living with their disability from a young age. In the study, this classifies those who are born with HIV and the discrimination and long-term problems that they face over time as someone with a disability.

With the ever-growing population of aging people, the importance of geriatricians with HIV experience is growing. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is an important tool that could be used for this specific population, but it is noted that the current model would need to be adjusted to work better with aging PLWH.

A very broad look at essential community-based supportive services to promote healthy aging of OPWH. It also discusses the potential barriers to those who are older suffering from HIV. This article also mentions that it would be most beneficial for physicians to address the whole individual including the environment and community that they live in as well as their medical information.

Many aging people with HIV experience health effects similar to people who are 5-10 years older than them. This includes cognitive decline, something that is highly prevalent in older generations. Researchers look at the relationship between living with HIV and cognitive impairment. This article also addresses body composition changes in people with HIV and the clinical complications.

In an evaluated clinic that worked with aging PLWH, it was found that almost all referrals to the clinic involved comorbidities and suspected geriatric syndrome. Researchers suggested that Geriatricians with specializations in HIV might soon play a key role in the management and care of older people with both HIV and geriatric syndromes.

People who are living with HIV are living longer lives which may bring on new challenges in regards to the comorbidities that can occur in older people with HIV (OPWH). Early diagnoses of these comorbidities, geriatric care is essential to the continuation of life and quality of life for these patients.

With increasing numbers of aging PLWH, HIV care programs need to begin involving geriatric medicine practices. Researchers suggest that an aging HIV+ person’s care should involve a multidisciplinary team that would include primary care physicians, social workers, and geriatricians.

Social deprivation is a comorbidity that many older people living with HIV face. The study analyzed the relationship between people living with HIV and social deprivation. Social deprivation was not related to HIV status but showed that OPWH that suffered from social deprivation received little support from social workers.

This article summarizes plenary talks from the 10th Annual International Workshop on HIV and Aging, which took place in New York City on October 10 and 11, 2019. Presentation topics included the following: the burdens of HIV-associated comorbidities, aging phenotypes, community engagement, and loneliness; these issues are especially important for older PWH, considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study evaluates the levels of systemic inflammation to better understand the risk of age-associated diseases in PLHIV on long-term suppressive ART using a large number of biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation. This study found that there is still a large amount of inflammation in those who are on ART as in those who were untreated.

The article discusses some of the challenges, clinical and immunological, that elderly people living with HIV encounter. It also discusses that due to ART more people are living with HIV, which means that they live longer. It warns of various things that clinicians can keep in mind while evaluating elder patients with HIV, such as mixing medications. 

People living with HIV (PLWH) are living longer, developing comorbidities and aging-related syndromes. New care models are needed to address the combined burden and complexity of HIV and its comorbidities in this group. The goal of this study is to describe qualitative data from patients and providers that informed the development of a comprehensive care model for older PLWH.

Researchers examine the age-related conditions in older persons with HIV and address clinical management according to the author’s expertise and published literature. The researchers aim to advance the debate about the most appropriate management of this population, including less well-studied aspects, such as the frequency of screening for psychological/mental and social and functional capabilities.

People with HIV are living longer and can experience physical, mental, and social health challenges associated with aging and multimorbidity. Rehabilitation is well-positioned to address disability and maximize healthy aging. In this article, findings from CIHRRC’s aim to identify emerging research priorities in HIV, aging, and rehabilitation from the perspectives of people living with HIV, clinicians, researchers, representatives from community organizations, and policy stakeholders are reported.

The development of frailty is a risk factor for most aging adults however OPWH are at a greater risk of this development. Prevention efforts need to be made to help OPWH successfully age without disability or loss of independence. It also discusses how the needs for OPWH should be evaluated.