A class of antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS (HIV) can cause premature aging in those who take them, a finding that is particularly evident in Africa and low-income countries, according to research published in the journal Nature Genetics. The study was used to explain why HIV patients taking antiretroviral drugs exhibit symptoms of diseases associated with aging, such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Mitochondria are the organelles that supply energy to cells. During the natural aging process, mitochondrial DNA gradually accumulates genetic mutations. Whether such mutations are a cause or a consequence of aging is unclear. In the study, Professor Patrick Chinnery and colleagues at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom studied muscle cells from an HIV-positive population. Some of this population had taken antiretroviral drugs. Professor Chinnery believes that the HIV drugs accelerate the accumulation of mutations in the mitochondria and therefore contribute to premature aging. Experts say that even though retroviral drugs have side effects, they are still an important tool in the treatment of HIV. Professor Chinnery and colleagues are now trying to find ways to repair or slow down the damage to mitochondria caused by the drugs. They believe that physical exercise appears to be beneficial for patients with mitochondrial damage.