Mueller AL, McNamara MS, Sinclair DA. Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people?. Aging (Albany NY). 2020; 12:9959-9981. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103344
Mueller AL, McNamara MS, Sinclair DA. Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people?. Aging (Albany NY). 2020; 12:9959-9981. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.103344
Abstract
The severity and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) largely depends on a patient’s age. Over 80% of hospitalizations are of those over 65 years of age with a 23-fold greater risk of death. In the clinic, COVID-19 patients most commonly present with fever, cough and dyspnea. Particularly in those over 65, it can progress to pneumonia, lung consolidation, cytokine release syndrome, endotheliitis, coagulopathy, multiple organ failure and death. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension increase the chances of fatal disease, but they alone do not explain the variability in COVID-19 symptoms. Here, we present the molecular differences between the young, middle-aged and elderly that may determine whether COVID-19 is a mild or life-threatening illness. We also discuss several biological age clocks that could be used in conjunction with genetic tests to identify both the mechanisms of the disease and individuals most at risk. Finally, based on these mechanisms, we discuss treatments that could increase survival in the elderly, not simply by inhibiting the virus, but by restoring patients’ ability to clear the infection.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received:
7 May 2020
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
If older people would take rapamycin to address dysregulation of mTOR and fisetin senolytic to reove excessive senescent cells, and take cbd oil with the appropriate broad spectrum of terpines, their immune systems would be biologically younger than their chronological age and they would either not get covid 19, or would handle with a less severe resu;lt. Marilyn Grashowa non scientist who takes good care of her health and total recovery from 2 cancers.There is plethora of excellent research on this from brilliant peopleread it. Also a very successful treatment by doctor(s) involved hydroxychloroquin and rapamycin.
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.