HIV Rates Rising Among Older Adults, But Focus Remains on Younger Populations: Study

New Delhi: A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity has raised concerns over a surprising and overlooked trend—older adults, particularly those aged 50 and above, are increasingly acquiring HIV but continue to be excluded from most prevention and treatment initiatives that remain heavily focused on youth.

The research, conducted by scientists from Wits University in South Africa, sheds light on a growing public health gap in countries like Kenya and South Africa, where HIV prevalence among older adults is now equal to—or even exceeds—that of younger age groups. Yet, public health campaigns, HIV surveys, and interventions continue to prioritize the younger population, leading to inadequate awareness, poor testing rates, and limited access to care for older individuals.

“We often think of HIV as a disease affecting young people, and that misconception is dangerous,” said Dr. Luicer Olubayo of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience at Wits University. “When prevention campaigns target only the youth, older adults are left unaware and unprotected.”

A significant concern highlighted in the study is that many older individuals do not perceive themselves at risk of contracting HIV, contributing to lower rates of HIV testing in this demographic. This delay in diagnosis not only worsens health outcomes but also hinders progress toward achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals by 2030—aimed at ensuring that the vast majority of people living with HIV know their status, receive treatment, and have suppressed viral loads.

The study also touches on the social stigma surrounding HIV, especially among older populations, which continues to limit conversations about sexual health and contributes to the lack of targeted interventions. Experts emphasize the urgent need for tailored HIV prevention strategies for older adults, including repeated testing, access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and mental health support.

Associate Professor F. Xavier Gomez-Olive from the MRC/Wits-Agincourt Research Unit added, “Without addressing HIV in older adults, we risk undermining decades of progress in the fight against the disease. It’s time to close this gap in awareness, research, and care.”