Researchers in the USA have now discovered that people who are infected with HIV apparently age faster than people who are not infected.
A research team from the University of California has published new results: On average, three years following HIV infection, the so-called epigenetic aging accelerates, in short, an accelerated aging process takes place at the DNA level. This fundamental development is also confirmed by Professor Stefan Esser from the University Hospital Essen – as head of the ongoing HIV HEART Aging Study, he is investigating how people with HIV age. Around 1,800 people are currently taking part, including patients who have been living with HIV for 30 years. Opposite to Buzzfeed News Deutschland says Esser: “Genetic and epigenetic studies in research laboratories show that cells in people with HIV infection age faster than in people who are HIV-negative. Infections such as HIV and chronic inflammation, such as the inflammation associated with chronic HIV infection, accelerate the aging process.”
People with HIV age up to 4.8 years faster than non-infected people
On average, people with HIV age 1.9 to 4.8 years faster than people without HIV. The data of the American study were taken from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. In addition, the virus has other effects on people, even with good drug treatment, the specialist from the University Hospital Essen continues: “HIV-positive people more often have several comorbidities, which means that in addition to an underlying disease, one or more other diseases are present at the same time . HIV patients usually suffer more frequently from cancer caused by co-infections – for example untreated chronic hepatitis C. Heart disease also occurs on average around ten years earlier in people with HIV than in the general population, with smoking being a main risk factor is.”
Of course, this cannot simply be generalized. It is therefore important to accompany HIV-positive people as they age and to research exactly how these people age. “We can then use this data to optimize your medical care,” says Esser. Overall, the situation in Germany is very comfortable, around 97 percent of people with HIV in the Federal Republic know regarding their infection and are being treated – only just under 10,000 Germans currently have no idea regarding their positive HIV status.
Doctors warn once morest taking HIV lightly despite good treatment options
The leading global experts are still unsure regarding the question of whether old age and other diseases form an unfortunate alliance: “This question is currently being researched as to whether frailty, dementia or other diseases occur earlier and/or more frequently in the aging HIV-positive population age-related limitations exist than in the general population,” Esser continues. The good news, however, is that both the aging process itself and possible comorbidities can be counteracted: “Many factors accelerate the aging process, such as smoking, excessive sunbathing and lack of exercise, so that everyone can do something themselves to prevent premature aging. Early HIV diagnosis and effective antiretroviral treatment are the best defenses once morest the accelerated aging process caused by HIV infection.”
So there are still unanswered questions and a lot of need for clarification when it comes to HIV. But it is clear that even as a young person you should not dismiss the viral disease as harmless. Esser emphasizes: “Statements like ‘HIV is no longer dangerous’ are wrong and trivial. I don’t want to spread fear, but I think it’s important that people become more mindful when dealing with HIV. People with HIV are dependent on medication throughout their lives, there are always long-term side effects and for many HIV-positive people, the infection is also a psychological burden. For many other diseases, HIV represents an additional risk factor and comes on top of it, so to speak.”
