Aging and HIV Infection

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in mid-1995, the prognosis for HIV-infected individuals has brightened dramatically. However, the conjunction of potent antiviral therapy and longer life expectancy may engender a variety of health risks that, heretofore, HIV specialists have not had to confront. The long-term effects of HIV infection itself and exposure to antiretroviral agents is unknown. Several aspects of aging, including psychiatric disease, neurocognitive impairment, and metabolic and hormonal disorders, may be influenced by chronic exposure to HIV and/or HIV therapeutics. In this paper, we discuss the health issues confronting HIV-infected older adults and areas for future research. Dr. Klein and Dr. Schoenbaun are with the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and The AIDS Research Program, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Dr. Anastos is with the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; Dr. Minkoff is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY; Dr. Sacks is with the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.