HIV/AIDS has become a manageable condition with which people can lead long, happy lives. Each year, on September 18 — National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day — we spread wisdom … and love.
Words by Trey Burnette
“We are in an incredible era of treating HIV,” says Dr. Jason Halperin, director of specialty programs at DAP Health. “Treatment is safer and more effective than ever, giving people with and without HIV the same life expectancy.”
Dr. Clayton Barbour, an HIV and hepatitis C specialist at DAP Health, remembers the bad old days. “When I started working with patients who received an AIDS diagnosis, they generally had a year to two to live,” he says. “But now I have patients who have lived for more than 30 years with HIV, well into old age.”
The Center for Disease Control estimates 54% (596,044) of people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States are 50 and older. Barbour adds that early detection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are key factors for patient longevity, but HIV does come with extra challenges.
First, the virus creates premature aging and inflammation in the body. “HIV+ people have a two times higher risk of cardiovascular related complications, such as stroke and heart attack,” says Halperin. Furthermore, diabetes, renal disease, and cancer are more common in people with HIV.
HIV.gov states, “HIV and its treatment can also have effects on the brain. Researchers estimate that between 25 and 50% of people with HIV have HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), a spectrum of cognitive, motor, and/or mood disorders categorized into three levels: asymptomatic, mild, and HIV-associated dementia.”
Mental health is also a consideration of aging with HIV. Loneliness and stigmatization can contribute to depression. “Many of my older patients have lost most of their social network, a traumatizing event,” Barbour says. “And unfortunately, some patients have coped by using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. People made choices based on the idea they wouldn’t be here, but here they are — living.”
Early detection and adherence to medication are imperative to longevity. Both doctors — Barbour at Stonewall Medical Center in Cathedral City, and Halperin at both Stonewall and Centro Medico Escondido on the San Diego coast — provide hope and health advice for people aging with HIV: eat a healthy (preferably Mediterranean) diet, exercise regularly, and stay connected to community.
Additionally, the physicians agree with current medical advice that anyone HIV+ and over the age of 40 should be on a statin to lower levels of blood cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke — and to seek treatment for any tobacco, drug, or alcohol addiction.
Today — September 18, 2024 — is the sixteenth National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. A long time ago, my community taught me not to fear the virus — or those who have it. Until there’s a cure, all of us must be proactive in fighting not just the virus, but the stigma and shame associated with it. All of us must stand with those living with HIV/AIDS.
We Have Every Tool to End the HIV Epidemic Now
Know your status. Get tested for free at DAP Health. If you’re negative, get on PrEP (a daily pill or long-lasting bimonthly injection) to prevent HIV. If you’re positive, get treatment so your viral load can become undetectable and so that you can become untransmissible, meaning you can’t pass the virus on to others (U=U). To get tested, click here. To access HIV/AIDS care, click here.
