In a new study, people living with HIV who got standard meds to keep the virus at bay also had much lower rates of Alzheimer's disease -- suggesting the drugs might also lower risks for the brain illness.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently afflicts nearly seven million people in the U.S. With this number expected to grow to nearly 13 million by 2050, the lack of meaningful therapies represents a major unmet medical need.

Key Takeaways Older people treated with certain HIV-suppressing meds have much lower odds for Alzheimer's disease That could mean that these HIV meds might do double duty in keeping the brain disease at bay Certain genetic mechanisms could explain the link,