New research indicates that effective HIV treatment may slow biological aging in people living with the virus.
A study published in eLife found that individuals with HIV who maintained viral suppression through antiretroviral therapy showed a measurable reduction in their biological age compared to their chronological age.
The findings, based on data from over 1,300 participants, suggest that consistent HIV treatment could mitigate some of the accelerated aging processes associated with the virus.
Researchers noted that the effect was most pronounced in those who achieved and sustained undetectable viral loads, reinforcing the long-term health benefits of early and continuous treatment.
While HIV is known to increase the risk of age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, this study highlights how treatment may assist counteract these effects at a cellular level.
The study’s authors emphasized that these results support the importance of expanding access to HIV care and treatment adherence programs worldwide.
Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these findings for aging populations living with HIV.
