International Workshop on Aging & HIV 2020

Welcome

The 11th edition of the International Workshop on HIV & Aging was held as a virtual conference on 30 September - 2 October 2020.

The integration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) into HIV care has dramatically extended the life expectancy of those living with HIV. The longer life expectancy of people with HIV infection is changing the demographics of the HIV epidemic and currently, more than half of the people living with HIV are aged 45 or older. Recent estimates in Europe suggest that more than 70% of those with HIV will be over the age of 50 by 2030, with a greater burden of co-morbidities and associated treatments. In comparison to similar HIV-negative populations, HIV-positive persons, even when on effective ART, experience an excess of morbidity and mortality. Persons on ART rarely die from complications of AIDS, but instead have an early onset of aging complications including neurocognitive decline, osteoporosis and fractures, impaired physical function, frailty, and falls. The high priority of understanding the interaction between age and HIV infection is illustrated by recent summary reports from the HIV and Aging Consensus Project in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and ongoing NIH Program Announcements in “Multidisciplinary Studies of HIV/AIDS and Aging”, in addition to strong voices in the community.

The multidisciplinary nature of HIV and aging requires the joint expertise of many areas, including geriatrics, internal medicine, HIV, pharmacology, psychology, and numerous subspecialties. Thus, the International Workshop on HIV & Aging was initiated in 2009 as a unique and much-needed platform for scientific exchange on the increasingly recognized difficulties encountered in the clinical care and design of research studies to improve the care of persons aging with HIV. The interactive and focused setting of the workshop allows for the presentation and discussion of the latest developments and strategies for the future of persons aging with HIV. Additionallt, the intimate size and focused nature of the workshop stimulates interaction, and the relationships formed between participants have led to many productive collaborations lasting well beyond the workshop itself.

As in previous years, the 2020 edition gathered a cross-disciplinary team of experts, trainees, and community members who are involved in HIV and aging research and the provision of care to older persons living with HIV. The ultimate goals of this workshop are to stimulate and guide research that will enable better treatment methods and strategies for older adults with HIV, to encourage young investigators, and to stimulate new partnerships between investigators in HIV and aging.

General Information

Practical Information