September 18 is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is a day set aside each year to recognize the impact of HIV/AIDS among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 55 and older accounted for 19% of the estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV infection in the United States in 2010. Older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with HIV infection late in the course of their disease, which may mean a later start to treatment, possibly causing more damage to their immune system. This can lead to poorer prognoses and shorter HIV-to-AIDS intervals. Visit our National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day webpage [en español] to learn more about this observance and to find information on HIV/AIDS and aging.