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Review
. 2020;24(7):685-691.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-020-1416-2.

COVID-19, Virology and Geroscience: A Perspective

C Vellas  1 , P Delobel, P de Souto Barreto, J Izopet
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19, Virology and Geroscience: A Perspective

C Vellas et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2020.

Abstract

A new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 spread very rapidly, causing a global pandemic, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Older adults have higher peak of viral load and, especially those with comorbidities, had higher COVID-19-related fatality rates than younger adults. In this Perspective paper, we summarize current knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 and aging, in order to understand why older people are more affected by COVID-19. We discuss about the possibility that the so-called "immunosenescence" and "inflammaging" processes, already present in a fraction of frail older adults, could allow the immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 leading to COVID-19 serious complications. Finally, we propose to use geroscience approaches to the field of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aging; coronavirus; frailty; geroscience; prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Circle of aging and SARS-CoV-2 infection With age, the immune system declines leading to frailty, comorbidities and high susceptibility to infections. This immune decline can be a predisposing condition sustaining COVID-19 serious complications and explaining high mortality rates in older people with COVID-19. We hypothesize that COVID-19 can be a future cause of accelerated aging and frailty
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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