How long a 51-year-old can live with AIDS is uncertain, depending on whether the patient is chronically infected with HIV or in the AIDS stage, and whether he or she receives regular antiretroviral treatment at an early stage. 1. After HIV infection, the human body will generally go through the acute infection period, the incubation period and the AIDS period. The incubation period generally lasts for 8 to 10 years, and the AIDS period lasts for 12 to 18 months, and ultimately the patient will die from various infections and tumors due to low immunity. 2. Early acceptance of antiretroviral treatment can significantly improve the course of the disease, and the survival period can be extended to 20-40 years, depending on the patient’s physical condition and the economic ability to receive medical intervention. The prognosis is very poor and the mortality rate is very high if the patient enters the AIDS stage without receiving proper treatment. 3.51 The average survival period for untreated HIV-infected patients in the chronic phase of infection is 8 to 10 years, and can be extended to 20 to 40 years for those who receive treatment. The average survival period for AIDS patients is 12 to 18 months. If you are infected with HIV, you should seek medical attention and standardize your treatment as soon as possible.