The general age bracket taken into consideration, while estimating the effect of AIDS on the elderly, is 50 years and above. Within a span of few years that is from the year 2001 to today, the number of elderly population affected with AIDS in the United States has risen from 17 percent to 29 percent.

These victims of AIDS can be bifurcated into three categories. Firstly, there are those who have been suffering at the hands of this lethal disease for years now. Secondly, there are many older people who have recently identified the disease already existing in their body for some years now and lastly, is the category of people who have recently contracted the disease.

Studies highlight that the incidence of AIDS is certainly increasing in the elderly. There can be various reasons for this rising percentage. Some of them include lack of awareness related to the disease, dearth of focus on this age group for imparting the knowledge of preventive measures, practicing unsafe sexual activities, the invention of drugs such as Viagra that has enhanced sexual desire in this age group, harnessing the misconception that AIDS is a disease of the young alone, mistaking symptoms of AIDS to be mere signs of ageing and finally not seeking treatment due to the stigma attached to the disease.

Although there has not been much research on AIDS in the elderly, it is often seen that age does complicate the situation in certain ways. The CD4 cells take a longer time to recuperate in older patients. The immune system of the body also starts deteriorating with age which further aggravates the situation. Also, many other problems or signs of ageing add to the already existing condition and worsen the effect of the disease. However, it is a proven fact that the antiretroviral treatment gives satisfactory results in older patients as well. A plus point of the age is enhanced conscientiousness that renders the patient more agile towards regularity in taking medication.  

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