Spanish Study Examins Aging and HIV

In the most recent issue of AIDS Reviews, Blanco and colleagues discuss a variety of the issues facing older adults living with HIV/AIDS. While the full article is not available due to copyright issues, the abstract can be found at:
http://www.aidsreviews.com/resumen.asp?id=1120&indice=2010124&u=unp

HIV Stigma Is Alive and Well

Despite wonderful advances in the clinical treatment of HIV disease, HIV stigma remains a serious problem. Recently the story of Rev. Dr. Robert Franke and his eviction from an Arkansas assisted living facility due to his HIV status has made the news. Standing Up To Stigma is a short video documentary of his story. Dr. Franke discusses his concerns about the impact of such behaviors for other older adults who may be less vocal self advocates.

Study Examins Aging and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa

While much of the literature we read on aging and HIV/AIDS is centered in the United States, the pattern of longer survival exists in other geographical areas throughout the world. In the most recent issue of the World Health Organization Bulletin, Negin and Cummings publish a study on aging and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Their findings suggest that in 2007, more than 3 million people age 50 years or older were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The full report can be found in PDF format through the WHO Bulletin http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/11/10-076349.pdf.

Health and Well-being Among Older Gay Men in Australia

In a recently published study, Anthony Lyons and colleagues from La Trobe University studies 693 HIV positive gay men in Australia. They compaired older and younger subjects and found while the older men had more comorbid conditions (other diseases), they found other areas of coping to be very positive for the older group. Copyright laws prevent making the full study available, but the article "Ageing with HIV: Health and psychosocial well-being of older gay men" was recently published in AIDS Care: 22(10), 1236-1244.

Attend the White House Meeting on Aging and HIV

On October 27, 2010 the White House's Office of National AIDS Policy sponsored a half day meeting on the subject of aging and HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness about people who are aging with HIV or contracting HIV as seniors (>50 years of age); to explore unique clinical manifestations of HIV infection among older adults; to discuss existing services for seniors living with HIV and highlight successes as well as gaps; and to discuss targeted strategies for Federal and non-Federal stakeholders to realize the vision of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Now you too can see this historic meeting first hand. The event was video recorded and is available through the ONAP. To see the meeting simply go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCWR60LIljc&feature=player_embedded.

White House to Hold Meeting on Aging and HIV

The White House and the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) will hold an invitational meeting next Wednesday morning at the White House. The purpose of the meeting to raise awareness about people who are aging with HIV or contracting HIV as seniors(>50 years of age); to explore unique clinical manifestations of HIV infection among older adults; to discuss existing services for seniors living with HIV and highlight successes as well as gaps; and to discuss targeted strategies for federal and non-federal stakeholders to realize the vision of the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. 

Presenters include academics, policy makers, persons living with HIV/AIDS and HIV advocates. A report on the meeting will be posted once I return from DC.

HIV and Premature Aging: A Debate

One of the hot topics in HIV research and advocacy efforts is whether or not HIV disease causes premature aging. Some research suggests there is merit to this position, while other researchers question the validity of this position. A recent article in POZ magazine discusses this important debate. There seems to be no shortage of stories or anecdotal evidence that this may be occurring, but more scientific evidence is needed. If you are interested in the topic of HIV and premature aging you can find the recent article in POZ at http://www.poz.com/articles/hiv_charpa_aging_401_19208.shtml. Additionally two prominent HIV researchers (Martin & Volberding) just published an editorial in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Copyright laws prevent me from posting the full article, but the editorial entitled HIV and Premature Aging: A field still in its infancy can be found in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 153, No. 7 pp. 477-478.

Aging with HIV: A Gay Man's Guide

The book Aging with HIV: A Gay Man's Guide will be published in December by Oxford University Press. The author, Dr. James Masten, has created a blog that will update you on the book as well as other issues related to this topic. While there is the possibility of some overlap between our blogs, it is better to get information twice than not at all. James and I are in the process of creating cross-links to help keep people better informed. The link to his new blog is http://agingwithhiv.wordpress.com/
Visit his site and check out the contents of his new book.

Aging and HIV Forum in San Francisco

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation will hold a forum/discussion on the topic of aging and HIV/AIDS. The forum will be held on Wednesday, October 13 at 600 The Emarcadero, San Francisco. An announcement for the event can be found at http://www.sfaf.org/hivision/index.html

GMHC Launches 50+ Program

GMHC of New York has initiated a new program in response to the growing number of adults 50 and over impacted by HIV disease. According to their web site the new program called 50+ Life long "strengthens the capacity of existing GMHC services to effectively provide quality HIV prevention and care services to this population". The specifics of the program can be found at:http://www.gmhc.org/protect/hivaids-and-older-adults

New Article Explores Sexual Behavior and STD Prevalence

A recently published article by Onen and colleagues examined sexual behavior and prevalence of STDs in both younger and older adults living with HIV/AIDS. The results of the study appears in a recent issue of AIDS Care. The citation for the study is:

Onen, NF, Shacham, E. & Stamm, K. et al (2010). Comparison of sexual behaviors and STD prevalence among older and younger individuals with HIV infection. AIDS Care, 22(6), 711-717.

September Conferene on Aging and HIV

The New England Association on HIV Over Fifty (NEAHOF) and the New England AIDS Education and Training Center will sponsor a day-long conference on aging and HIV/AIDS entitled "Lots of things come with age: HIV doesn't have to be one of them". The conference will be held on September 17, 2010 at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston. A copy of the conference brochure can be found at http://www.hivoverfifty.org/NEAHOF%20Brochure%202010.pdf

New Article on Aging and HIV

A new study on Aging and HIV was recently published in the March-April issue of HIV Clinical Trials. The study conducted by Onen and colleagues examined chronic diseases in populations of older adults with both seropositive and seronegative status. Older, HIV+ adutls had higher rates of some diseases. The abstract of the article can be found at:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20542846?dopt=Abstract

Article Reports on HIV Education of Older Adults

A newly published article reports on an HIV/AIDS education initiative for older adults. In the most recent issue of the Journal of Applied Gerontology the "No one is Immune" initiative is described. The article discusses the initiative and reports on research that assessed HIV knowledge gained by participants through both qualitative and quantitative measures. The full citation is:

Orel, N.A., Steele, C., Watson, W.K & Bunner, B.L. (2010). No one is immune: A community education partnership addressing HIV/AIDS and older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 29(3), 352-370.

Upcoming HIV and Aging Conference in DC

A one day conference on aging and HIV/AIDS entitled "HIV/AIDS Affects Us All" will be held on June 3, 2010 at the Howard University School of Social Work. This one day conference is free and aimed at increasing awareness of the aging of the HIV epidemic and the unique challenges of those living with HIV/AIDS over 50. Contact Courtney Williams of the DC Office on Aging at Courtney.williams@dc.gov for details.

HIV risk in Older Adults Makes Prime Time Series

This post is a bit different today. Typically, I mention a newly released report, article or training on the topic of aging and HIV/AIDS. But today I want to call attention to a prime time series that dealt with the topic of aging and HIV in a very sensitive way. In the final episode of Brothers and Sisters, uncle Saul who is a 72 year old gay man, according to the script, shares his concerns about the potential for HIV infection from a past partner. He recently learned his former partner has been diagnosed with AIDS. He seeks out an HIV test and the staff person specifically discusses the growing number of adults 50 and over at risk for HIV. The issue of HIV testing, stereotypes about risk based solely on age and ageist assumptions are discussed. It was heartening to see a sensitive, accurate portrayal of the issue on a prime time TV series.

New Report on Aging and HIV Released from GMHC

The Gay Men's Health Crisis has just issued a report enitled Gowing Older with the Epidemic: Aging and HIV. According to GMHC the report provides an overview of current knowledge on older adults and HIV. The report underscores the importance of issues such as comorbidities, not yet understood interactions with medications, and the layering of stigma based on HIV status, age, gender, ethnicity and gender orientation and expression. The report can be found at: http://www.gmhc.org/policy-analysis-3

AIDS Researcher Calls for New Paradigm

In a manuscript published in the April 12 edition of Current HIV/AIDS Reports Dr. Amy Justice suggests the aging of HIV requires a new paradigm of care. She posits that the chronic nature of the illness necessitates a method of care that maximizes functional status, minimizes frailty, and prolongs life expectancy. The abstract to the article can be found at:http://www.springerlink.com/content/t84713773m3255w3/

Continuing Education on Aging and HIV

The American Journal of Nursing is offering continuing education entitled Aging with HIV: Clinical Considerations for an Emerging Population. The course provides 2.1 CEU hours. Details can be found in the March 2010 issue of the American Journal of Nursing and at: http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Citation/2010/03000/CE_Test_2_1_Hours__Aging_with_HIV__Clinical.22.aspx

Symposium on HIV and Premature Aging

The Universityof California San Francisco will host the symposium
HIV Infection, Inflammation, and Premature Aging on May 18, 2010. Registration is free but limited. On-line registration is available at: http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/symposium

Video Interview with Dr. Malcolm John

Dr. Malcolm John, Director of the 360 Positive Care Center at the University of California, San Francisco was recently interviewed about his thoughts and experiences of working with older adults living with HIV/AIDS. In this video interview he discusses trends and views about the changing epidemic. The video can be found at http://www.bukisa.com/videos/258664_hiv-and-aging

The Body Provides Issue Overview

Recently, the well known HIV Publication The Body published an overview of many of the issues facing older adults living with and at risk for HIV disease. This short, web based publication can give consumers and others a short overview of this emerging issues. The article can be found at: http://www.thebody.com/content/news/art55612.html

The Graying of AIDS: Stories From the Front Lines

Time Multimedia has a series of stories from HIV positive older adults entitled The Graying of AIDS. The stories are compelling, educational and serve as wonderful catalysts for discussion. The series can be found at: http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/graying_of_aids/

Study Focuses on HIV Impact for Older South Africans

A study that examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on older adults in South Africa was recently published. "Growing Old in the Era of a High Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: The Impact of AIDS on Older Men and Women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa" by Munthree and Maharaj was published in Research on Aging, Vol. 32, No. 2. 155-174.

SAGE Publishes Report Focusing on Aging and HIV/AIDS

SAGE: Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders recently published a report from their December 2009 Roundtable. The report provides important and substantive information on a variety of issues related to aging and HIV/AIDS, particularly in the GLBT community.

LA to Host Elder HIV and Advocacy Summit

The city of Los Angeles will be hosting a summit focuing on elders, HIV and advocacy on February 12, 2009. The event will be held at the Tom Bradley Center. For more information go to: http://havvacc.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/httpwp-mepchcb-9l/

HIV and Aging Conference Material Available

On Monday, December 7, 2009, the New York State Department of Health sponsored a conference entitled Red Ribbons, Silver Threads: Healthy Aging in the Era of HIV/AIDS. This day long conference included some of the nation's foremost leaders in the area of aging and HIV. Conferece material is now available on the web through the New York State, Department of Health web site devoted to this conference.

Publication on HIV Stigma Among Older Women

A recent publicaton in the journal Social Work in Health Care focuses on the issue of HIV-related stigma among midlife and older women. The full citation is below.

Jacobs, R. J. & Kane, M.N. (2010). HIV-Related stigma in midlife and older women. Social Work in Health Care, 49(1), 68-89

Recent article on Standards of Care for those 50+

A recent article published in Current HIV/AIDS Reports discusses the standards of care when working with adults 50 years and older living with HIV/AIDS. The citation for the article is:

Henry, K. (2009). What Are the Standards of Care for HIV-Positive Patients Aged 50 Years and Older? Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 6,153–161.

New Study Links HIV Infection to Brain Aging

A study just published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases links HIV infection to more rapid decrease in blood flow to the brain. Researchers from Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine and the University of California, San Diego studied 26 subjects with HIV infection and 25 seronegative subjects. They found "functional brain demands in HIV positive subjects where equivalent to those of HIV negative subjects who were 15-20 years older".

The citation for the article is: Ances, B. M et al (2010). HIV and aging independently affect brain function as measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 201, 336-340.

University of Miami Symposium on Aging and HIV Infection

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the UM Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) is hosting their 7th annual HIV symposium on March 5, 2010. The topic for this years symposium is Aging and HIV infection. The symposium runs from 8:30 am to 5 pm and registration is required. For more information, call (305) 575-3267 or check the D-CFAR web site http://www.med.miami.edu/dcfar/

Older Adults with HIV: An In-Depth Examination of an Emerging Population

In 2006 the AIDS Community Resource Initiative of America (ACRIA) completed the largest study to date on older adults living with HIV/AIDS. The study know as ROAH (Research on Older Adults with HIV) surveyed nearly 1000 HIV positive individuals in New York City over the age of 50. The results of that study are now available in a full length book edited by Brennen, Karpiak, Shippy & Cantor. The book entitled Older Adults with HIV: An In-Depth Examination of an Emerging Population can be purchased through Nova Sciences. This is an important resource for all interested in aging and HIV/AIDS. Just click the link to the title of the book for information on purchase.

New Issue of Mental Health AIDS

The most recent issue of Mental Health AIDS (Vol 11, No. 2, Winter 2010) has recently been released. There are numerous articles and references to older adults included in this newsletter. For example, there is a discussion of an HIV risk intervention for older African American Men(see Coleman, C.L., Jemmott, L., Jemmott, J.B., Strumpf, N., & Ratcliffe, S. (2009). Development of an HIV risk reduction intervention for older seropositive African American men. AIDS Patient Care & STDs, 23(8), 647-655.)

In addition, there is mention of a recently published book with relevance to older persons (see Goodkin, K., Shapshak, P., & Verma, A. (Eds.). (2008). The spectrum of neuro-AIDS disorders: Pathophysiology,diagnosis, and treatment. Washington,DC: ASM Press.

The full newletter is published by SAMHSA and can be found at using this link.

Growing Concern over HIV/AIDS in China's Elderly

An artice in China Today discusses the growing concern over HIV/AIDS in China's elderly population and the response to improve safe sex messages to the older adult population. The article indicates that "the rise in infection among older people [is associated with] abundant and cheap commercial sex, as well as an increasingly active gay community." The concern reminds us of the diversity among HIV disease and older people and that treatment approaches as well as prevention messages need to be aimed at the target population. For more information go to: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-01/11/content_9297255.htm

New Publication on Older Adults and HIV knowledge

The following citation was just located as a new publication related to knowledge of older adults about HIV.

Small, L. F. (2010). What Older Adults Know about HIV/AIDS: Lessons from an HIV/AIDS Education Program. Educational Gerontology, 36(1), 26-45.

Medicare Begins To Reimburse For HIV Screening

Kaiser Health News reports that Medicare will begin paying for HIV testing. This is really a very important step in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the recognition that older adults engage in behaviors (both sexual and injection drug use) that place them at risk for HIV and other STIs. Whether payment for testing will be sufficient to break down barriers and stigma regarding HIV for older people remains to be seen. This is certainly a step in the right direction.

According to this report, "Last month, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Medicare would cover HIV screenings for beneficiaries who are at increased risk for HIV, who are pregnant or who request it”. This policy change seems to stop short of the routine screening recommendations that were put in place by the CDC in 2006 for persons between the ages of 13 and 64 years of age.

Handbook of HIV and Social Work: Principles, Practice, and Populations

This new book, edited by Cynthia Cannon Poindexter will focus on HIV and Social Work practice. The book consists of 20 chapters divided into three parts. The first part, Principles, lays the groundwork necessary to understand all HIV services, advocacy, and prevention. The second part, Methods, focuses on social work methods and how they are used in the HIV field. The third section, Populations, highlights particularly vulnerable populations. The various chapters focus on HIV practice and policy in the US from a social work perspective. Several chapters have relevance to older adults, including a chapter on midlife and older adults as well as a chapter on HIV affected caregivers. The book can be ordered from Wiley & Sons and can be found at:



Release is estimated to be March of 2010.