Beat It?
From People (April 7, 2008), a little good news from the HIV front. A lengthy profile of Jake Glaser (son of Paul Michael Glaser and his late wife, AIDS activist Elisabeth) reveals him to be a hot 'n' healthy 23-year-old with a great attitude about the virus he's carried from birth, and that killed his mother and sister.
I learned from the article that a mutation in the CCR5 gene may be one reason some people (fewer than 10%) seem to live asymptomatically with HIV for long (indefinite?) periods of time—Glaser doesn't even require medication anymore, though he's vigilant about his health and about using condoms. Another interesting fact from the piece:
"In 1993 the life expectancy of people with HIV was seven years; today, with improved treatment, it's 24 years from the date of diagnosis."
Still no excuse for tossing safe sex out the window in your twenties and thirties, but amazing progress.
The Glaser Family, 22 years after HIV.
It's important to note that having the CCR5 gene is not the ONLY way to remain asymptomatic with HIV. Taking care of yourself, balancing a healthy lifestyle with proper and thorough medical care, and the medications we are now privy to can also keep you symptom free and undetectable.
Also, while a life expectancy of 24 years sounds fabulous in comparison to 7 years in 1993, it's hardly great news. i was 26 when i found out i was positive. does that mean i'll be dead by 50? doubtful... medications, science, and everything involved in health care is changing all the time. this is a MANAGEABLE disease. it doesn't mean you should go out and get it, but it certainly means that getting it isn't a death sentence by any means...7, 24, or 300 years later.
Posted by: david | March 31, 2008 at 06:53 AM
Right, David—and life expectancy will undoubtedly grow every year, so I wouldn't make your calendar for your 50th. But I do think we're all goners by 300 years from now...sorry to be pessimistic.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | March 31, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Paul Michael Glaser just turned 65. He's looking pretty damn good.
Posted by: Rob | March 31, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Yeah, he was always the hotter one.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | March 31, 2008 at 11:26 AM
The kid is definitely his father's son.
Posted by: David | March 31, 2008 at 01:43 PM
"It's important to note that having the CCR5 gene is not the ONLY way to remain asymptomatic with HIV"
That's true, but it sure seems easier than a lifetime of meds. I sure envy anyone with that gene: it's probably easier to deal with than Norvir and Reyataz (which aren't THAT bad, but still, it sucks to have to take them... forever).
Posted by: Bears are Fat | April 01, 2008 at 05:24 PM