Narrative review: exercise for age-related health in people aging with HIV
This narrative review describes age-related comorbidities in people living with HIV and presents aerobic and resistance training as an accessible strategy to support healthy aging; the abstract reports improved markers without adverse effects on HIV progression. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The abstract says many people living with HIV experience complex age-related comorbidities and functional decline despite longer lifespans from antiretroviral therapy. [1]
The review links chronic immune activation and long-term antiretroviral use to inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiometabolic risk and neurocognitive impairment. [1]
The abstract states that aerobic and resistance training can improve immune markers, cardiometabolic health, cognitive function, mood and quality of life without adversely affecting HIV progression. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- People living with HIV who are aging, as described in the review
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 6, 2026
Age-related comorbidities in people aging with HIV
Although antiretroviral therapy has extended the lifespan of people living with HIV, many experience complex age-related comorbidities and functional decline, according to the abstract. Nurses increasingly care for these people as they face cardiometabolic disease, neurocognitive changes, frailty and mental health challenges. The review links chronic immune activation and long-term antiretroviral use to inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiometabolic risk and neurocognitive impairment. These are described associations in a narrative review, not proven causes.
Supporting source [1]
Reported exercise effects and proposed practical protocols
The abstract states that evidence shows aerobic and resistance training can improve immune markers, cardiometabolic health, cognitive function, mood and quality of life without adversely affecting HIV progression. It also says practical, adaptable exercise protocols suitable for clinical, home-based and community-based settings are provided to support integration into routine HIV care. The abstract does not report sample sizes, study designs or effect sizes behind these statements.
Supporting source [1]
Nurses and exercise in routine HIV care
The review frames regular exercise as a safe and scalable strategy that nurses can incorporate into comprehensive, patient-centered care for aging people living with HIV. This is the review's conclusion as presented in the abstract, not a tested intervention result. The abstract is the only text reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so details of the included evidence and the exercise protocols remain unknown here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no study designs, sample sizes, follow-up or effect sizes, and the exercise protocols are not detailed here.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
SantaBarbara NJ, Kurdziel L, Cellucci J, Conz K, Finlayson H, McKinney R, Bharath L. · europepmc.org · October 6, 2026