Adverse Daily Experiences in Older Men Susceptible to or Living with HIV

The health and well-being of older men susceptible to or living with HIV (MSLH) has been greatly shaped by adverse daily experiences (ADE). Their contemporary history and life course have been defined by exodus from difficult situations and the formation of supportive communities. The overall goal of this research is to shed light on the extent and the manner in which ADE shape older MSLH’s health. This study will assess the relationships among health, ADE, resources, and biomarkers of health and aging in older MSLH across HIV status. This research is needed because older MSLH’s health fares worse than that of the general population, their exposure ADE is higher, and they have less access to supportive resources than older people generally. Notably, 40 years after we first faced HIV, we continue to learn about the consequences of HIV, including aging with HIV. MSLH comprise the majority of older people living with HIV. Older MSLH face unique health risks and protective factors, yet they constitute a very complex population. What we know about their health comes from the general population of well-educated, and convenient samples. Hence, the need to collect data from valid samples. This is a cross-sectional study based on San Francisco Bay Area. Quantitative and Qualitative data will be collected from a sample of 600 older MSLH. We will collect ADE, individual, and biological data to test hypotheses regarding the associations among ADE, resources, and health (e.g., mental health, HIV risk, cognitive function). Our team is multidisciplinary and includes our community partner, The Elizabeth Taylor 50-Plus Network (of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation). This proposal addresses the Office of AIDS Research Strategic Plan of tackling HIV comorbidities and health. The data and findings from this study are intended to constitute the baseline for a longitudinal study.