Grant: Project Grant

Aging is a complex process characterized by several biological changes that occur and accumulate throughout life such as inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and immune senescence. People accumulate these changes at different speeds, so their biological age (or phenotypic age) is different from their chronological age. Females generally live longer than males, with fewer aging-related illnesses early in life. However, after menopause, an aging experience unique to females, they accumulate age-related illnesses at a similar rate to males. While reasons are not fully understood, they may relate to reduction in sex hormones. Sex hormones play a crucial role in keeping our bodies functioning normally and when balanced the immune system performs well, and our cells age normally. However, abnormal hormone levels can lead to increased illness. For hormones to function normally, we need: enough hormone and functioning receptors for cells to respond. Women living with HIV experience earlier loss of sex hormones, increased inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and earlier immune senescence. Despite effective antiretroviral therapy extending the lives of people living with HIV, women living with HIV in Canada still experience reduced healthspan and lifespan than both men living with and women without HIV. A link between low sex hormones, and biological changes as a pathway to aging is emerging, though the effect of hormone receptors is not well understood. The British Columbia CARMA-CHIWOS Collaboration (BCC3) is a study of 700 women living with and without HIV that employs a comprehensive approach to studying healthy aging. We will use HIV as a model of accelerated aging to study sex hormone/hormone receptor alterations in women, and how these relate to mitochondrial health, inflammation, immune senescence and phenotypic aging. This research will inform potential ways to promote healthy aging and support women-centered and informed decision-making in clinical care.