Olympian Greg Louganis Shares Personal Experience on Aging with HIV Exclusively on HIV-Age.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the eve of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, HIV-Age.org today announced the addition of a first-person narrative by Olympian star Greg Louganis on his personal experience of aging with HIV.   Louganis was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, just six months before his second triumphant appearance at the Olympic Games. 

Mr. Louganis celebrates his unexpected longevity in his editorial, giving credit to both medical advancements and positive attitude.  However, he is also very open about challenges that come with aging with HIV, especially his financial struggles. 

"We are honored that Mr. Louganis would share his intimate thoughts, circumstances and challenges with us," said Jonathan Appelbaum, MD, AAHIVS, member of the HIV-Age.org editorial board and director of Internal Medical Education at Florida State University College of Medicine.  "Despite his historic success and notoriety, he is experiencing many of the same personal struggles that many older HIV patients face."  

In the editorial, Mr. Louganis states, "I find this is a struggle with many older people living with HIV/AIDS.  We worry about housing and living expenses, insurance, and medical maintenance.  This is not unlike the worries of the majority of older Americans.  The difference is they were expecting to live to a ripe old age."

At age 54, Mr. Louganis is one of many older Americans living with HIV.  By 2015, half of the U.S. HIV population will be age 50 and older.

HIV-Age.org has been created as part of the HIV and Aging Consensus Project, developed to assess how the presence of both HIV and common age-associated diseases alter the optimal treatment of HIV, as well as other co-existing medical conditions. HIV-Age.org includes editorials by leading clinicians, researchers and thought-leaders in the field, scientific spotlight articles on the latest research and treatment options, thought-provoking case studies and useful medical and government resources and links. 

The development of HIV-Age.org was made possible through generous support from The Archstone Foundation.  The grant was awarded to the American Academy of HIV Medicine to administer this program.

To view the entire editorial by Mr. Louganis, log onto www.HIV-Age.org.  To arrange an interview with Mr. Louganis or with a representative from AAHIVM, AGS, or ACRIA, please contact Amber McCracken at 202-659-0699 x13 or [email protected].

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140916/146590

SOURCE American Academy of HIV Medicine