Pasadena-based Huntington Medical Research Institutes Hosts Inaugural Community Forum to Release Findings from Study on Aging with HIV

    PASADENA, CA, June 05, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Saturday, June 8, 2019, Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) will host an Inaugural Community Forum to highlight the findings from its BRAVE (Brain Aging and Vascular Etiology in HIV) study. The focus of the study is to gain a better understanding of brain and cardiovascular changes among people who are HIV positive but continue to maintain viral suppression. The study also seeks to better understand accelerated aging and increased risk for non-AIDS age-related diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, and neurocognitive decline.

Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Kimberly Shriner of Huntington Hospital and HMRI's Director of Imaging Research, Dr. Kevin S. King, will speak about the physician's view on managing HIV and about the importance of the study. Moderated by Dr. Shriner, the Forum also includes a panel of five individuals living healthy lives with HIV.

HMRI began the BRAVE study in 2017 to follow people living with HIV over time to better understand their heart and brain health while living otherwise healthy lives with HIV. Since the start of the study, HMRI has enrolled approximately 50 individuals and plans to continue enrolling study participants.

Studying brain health with aging in HIV is difficult as many of the changes seen in the brain in HIV resemble accelerated aging. HMRI has used a comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging evaluation that allows research scientists to distinguish the effects of HIV on the brain from the effects of aging. It's also been found that people with more advanced HIV infection when they initiate treatment have persistent deficiencies in brain metabolism and brain artery function even after achieving long term viral suppression. Importantly, scientists can identify metabolic and vascular problems before any permanent damage to the brain has occurred and when health interventions have the best chance of improving long term outcomes.

HMRI President and CEO, Dr. Julia Bradsher shares, "We are excited to launch this new program to engage and educate the community about our research and life-changing health conditions and diseases." Dr. Bradsher went on to say, "We plan to make this an annual program and focus each year on a different area of HMRI's work. We are pleased to feature the BRAVE study in this inaugural program."

Greg Louganis, four-time Gold Medal Olympic diver, speaker, author, activist, actor, humanitarian, and designer, will be the keynote speaker.

The Community Forum is a free event and is open to the public. Individuals interested in attending must RSVP online at https://hmri.org/brave/. Seating is limited. Deadline to RSVP is June 5, 2019.

The event is sponsored by Perkins+Will and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

For interviews, please contact Brenda Rivas at [email protected] or 626-807-7079.

Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI), founded in 1952, is an independent, non-profit organization with the mission to improve lives through patient-focused scientific research.

HMRI conducts internationally recognized research in the areas of neuroscience (migraine, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury), cardiovascular (heart attack, chronic heart disease), clinical research (hepatitis, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and pelvic floor disorders), and advanced imaging research.

For more information, please visit www.hmri.org.

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