New frontiers and challenges in HIV research among older minority populations

Older racial and ethnic minorities are a rapidly growing segment of the population. HIV infection disproportionately affects minorities of all ages, presenting new challenges in research, prevention, and treatment of HIV infection. Cultural characteristics coupled with changing values and age-related beliefs can present some atypical challenges to HIV researchers and clinicians. Family relationships, language barriers, and the psychology of aging complicate these challenges even further. Older minorities also experience certain stigmas that the added burden of HIV infection only exacerbates. Effective research, prevention, and treatment must begin with sensitivity to the varied characteristics of older minorities.