As people increasingly live longer with HIV, there are signs the effects of old age are coming on earlier. The issue was raised during a talk by Australia's leading HIV/AIDS expert Dr David Cooper, as he visited New Zealand last week. Body Positive spokesman Bruce Kilmister was able to secure an hour of Dr Cooper's time for a gathering to have a relaxed and informal talk about HIV and the impact on HIV-positive people's lives. "And one of them is the reality of what it means growing older, people growing older with HIV. And he gave a sort of life expectation that people could live to around 70 – sort of a near natural life for most people, provided they maintain a good health regime." Jane Bruning from Positive Women told the group about attending the AFAO HIV Educators Conference in Sydney early in June, where she says HIV and ageing was a key topic of discussion. "Presenters discussed how various age related conditions are appearing at younger ages with people living with HIV than is normal in the general population." Bruning says while HIV-associated dementiais actually being seen far less these days, a significant proportion of HIV positive people will experience some degree of cognitive impairment. "Early changes can often be subtle and at risk of being attributed to various other causes, like ageing, depression, stress, reduced mental demands with no working," she says. "However, as a potentially treatable condition it is important to identify, so as to enable appropriate treatment and supports." She says other health issues HIV-positive people are confronting as they grow older are certain types of cancers, heart attacks and drug-induced diabetes. Bruning says she still has a lot of unanswered questions about the effects of old age being seen earlier, as the issue of HIV and ageing is complex and multifaceted. "As there is still some uncertainty of the effects of long term HIV treatment in the emerging co-morbidities being seen or whether it is HIV itself, or a combination of the two - and of course the natural aging process on top of all that." Bruning is worried that concerns about things like memory loss are being attributed by the medical profession as general ageing process. "And I am concerned that neurological disorders are not being taken seriously. Perhaps all people living with HIV for x number of years over the age of 50 should perhaps undergo neurological cognitive testing."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily New staff
First published: Monday, 28th June 2010 - 9:09am