What Other Health Problems Are Common?

What Other Health Problems Are Common?

As people age, they develop health issues that continue for the rest of their lives. These can include heart disease (see Fact Sheet 652), depression (see Fact Sheet 558), osteoporosis (see Fact Sheet 557), high blood pressure, kidney problems (see Fact Sheet 651), arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and various forms of cancer.

Older people often take many different medications to deal with their health problems. This can make it more difficult for a doctor to choose anti-HIV drugs because of interactions with other medications.

Mental Problems

Older people may have more problems with thinking and remembering than younger people. These symptoms can appear to be the same as HIV-related mental problems. Fact Sheet 505 has more information on HIV and nervous system problems.

These problems, sometimes called dementia, are less severe than they were before the use of strong anti-HIV drugs. It is difficult to know what is causing mental problems in older people with HIV. Is it normal aging, or is it HIV disease? Research studies have linked both age and higher viral load (see Fact Sheet 125) to mental problems.

Rates of depression and substance use haven't been well studied in older people. However, these problems may be related to HIV disease, aging, or both. They need to be diagnosed and treated correctly.

The Bottom Line

The number of people over 50 with HIV or AIDS is growing rapidly. About 29% of people with AIDS in the United States are over age 50.

Older people get HIV the same way as younger people. However, they may not be aware that they are at risk of HIV infection. They also may not know how to protect themselves from HIV transmission.

Older people have to deal with other health issues. These can complicate the selection of anti-HIV medications. They can also be confused with some of the side effects of HIV drugs.

HIV drugs seem to work as well in older people as in younger people, although their CD4 cell counts may be lower. Also, older people may be better about taking their medications than younger people.