Does cytomegalovirus accelerate aging in people living with HIV?
Almost all people living with HIV are also infected with cytomegalovirus, a common virus that remains present in the body for life. Even though HIV treatments now allow people to live longer, this hidden virus plays a significant role in accelerated aging and the onset of age-related diseases.
Cytomegalovirus acts silently by periodically reactivating inflammation and profoundly altering the immune system. It promotes the expansion of certain specialized immune cells, which become less effective over time and contribute to a state of chronic inflammation. This process weakens the body’s defenses and accelerates biological aging, increasing the risks of frailty, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cognitive disorders.
This virus also influences metabolism and leaves lasting marks on the DNA of cells, disrupting their normal function. It particularly settles in adipose tissues, where it maintains local inflammation and worsens metabolic imbalances. People living with HIV, already weakened by persistent inflammation, thus see their health deteriorate more rapidly.
Therapeutic avenues are emerging to counter these effects. An antiviral drug, letermovir, shows promising results in reducing inflammation and improving immune function. Vaccines are also in development to prevent virus reactivations.
These advances suggest that by specifically targeting cytomegalovirus, it may be possible to slow down aging and improve the quality of life for people undergoing HIV treatment. This approach could represent a major breakthrough in preventing age-related complications in this population.
Bibliographie
Source de l’étude
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-026-00775-2
Titre : Cytomegalovirus in HIV: A Modifiable Driver of Inflammation, Frailty, and Aging
Revue : Current HIV/AIDS Reports
Éditeur : Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Auteurs : Alfonso Cabello Ubeda; Kristine M. Erlandson; Michael L. Freeman; Scott L. Letendre; Celestine N. Wanjalla; John R. Koethe; Michael J. Corley; Peter W. Hunt; Sara Gianella