Accelerated Pace of Biological Aging in People With HIV and Insomnia Living in Southeastern United States: A Cross-Sectional Study

Our study examined the relationship between insomnia and the pace of biological aging in persons with HIV (PWH). We used Dunedin Pace of Aging from the Epigenome (DunedinPACE) to determine pace of biological aging in adults, ages 18 to 85 years: 34 without HIV or insomnia, 13 without HIV but with insomnia, 22 with HIV but no insomnia, and 38 with HIV and insomnia. Findings revealed that irrespective of insomnia status, PWH had a greater acceleration of biological aging (DunedinPACE) compared with those without HIV. PWH with insomnia demonstrated many of the highest values for DunedinPACE. This suggests that sleep disruption may act as an additional mechanism compounding immune aging and chronic inflammation already associated with HIV, such that PWH who also experience insomnia face a cumulative burden of risk factors that together drive a faster pace of biological aging.