HIV Treatment Found to Reverse Biological Ageing by Nearly Four Years, Study Shows

Global – A major new study presented at ESCMID Global 2026 has found that antiretroviral therapy (ART) can significantly reverse accelerated biological ageing in people living with HIV, offering new hope for improved long-term health outcomes. Researchers reported that effective ART reduced biological ageing by an average of 3.7 years, a breakthrough that could reshape how clinicians monitor HIV treatment and patient wellbeing.

The study introduced a cutting-edge tool known as a plasma proteomic aging clock (PAC), a model that estimates biological age based on protein patterns in the blood rather than actual years lived. Using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS), scientists analysed hundreds of plasma samples to track how HIV infection and treatment affect ageing at a molecular level.

Findings showed that during untreated HIV infection, participants experienced accelerated biological ageing of up to 10 years. This aligns with existing evidence linking HIV to chronic inflammation and increased risk of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular conditions.

However, after a median of 1.55 years on ART, participants’ biological age began to decline significantly.

Lead researcher Barry Ryan from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne said the findings highlight the importance of early and sustained treatment.

“Uncontrolled HIV infection is linked to faster ageing, and ART significantly slows this process,” he said.

The study also found that biological recovery continues over time, with ageing markers moving closer to normal levels the longer patients remain on treatment.

Interestingly, the reversal of ageing was not strongly linked to traditional immune markers such as CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell counts. Instead, the improvements appear to reflect broader changes in inflammation and the body’s innate immune system. This suggests that ART’s benefits extend beyond viral suppression to deeper biological repair.

Experts say the findings reinforce global medical guidance encouraging early initiation of ART after HIV diagnosis.

“This research strengthens the case for prompt treatment not just to control the virus, but to protect long-term health and ageing,” said a global health specialist.

Researchers are calling for further studies to validate the PAC model across diverse populations and better understand the biological pathways involved. Despite this, the overall trend is clear: untreated HIV accelerates ageing, while effective treatment can reverse some of that damage.

The study marks a significant step forward in understanding how HIV affects the body over time and how modern treatment can mitigate those effects. For millions of people living with HIV worldwide, the findings offer renewed optimism that early diagnosis and consistent treatment can lead to longer, healthier lives.

HIV biological ageing