{"product_id":"geroscience-in-the-age-of-covid-19-why-targeting-aging-itself-might-protect-us-from-this-and-future-pandemics","title":"Geroscience in the Age of COVID-19: Why Targeting Aging Itself Might Protect Us From This and Future Pandemics","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis editorial from leading aging researchers argues that the COVID-19 pandemic reveals an urgent need to treat the biology of aging itself. Because older adults face dramatically higher risks of hospitalization, disability, and death from the novel coronavirus, the authors recommend launching broad clinical trials of existing drugs like metformin and rapamycin — medications that target the aging process and could boost immune resilience. The \"geroscience\" approach described here is designed to be pathogen-blind, meaning it could protect against not only COVID-19 but also future infections, epidemics, and pandemics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch1\u003eGeroscience in the Age of COVID-19: Why Targeting Aging Itself Might Protect Us From This and Future Pandemics\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#aging-risk\"\u003eAging as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 and Other Infections\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#geroscience\"\u003eWhat Is Geroscience?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#immune\"\u003eImmune Dysfunction and Inflammaging: The Aging Immune System\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#today\"\u003eWhat Can We Do Today?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#geroprotectors\"\u003eGeroprotectors: Existing Drugs That Target Aging\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#need\"\u003eThe Need to Advance Gerotherapeutics Now\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#biotech\"\u003eBiotech and the Drug Pipeline\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#all-ages\"\u003eA Geroscience Approach Would Benefit Not Only the Chronologically Old\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#research\"\u003eStrategic Research Directions: Evaluation of Aging, Multimorbidity, and Frailty\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#policy\"\u003ePolicy Implications: Lessons From the Pandemic\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#patients\"\u003eWhat This Means for Patients\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOlder adults are most vulnerable to COVID-19; 77% of US deaths were people aged 65+ as of April 2020.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeroscience targets aging biology to delay or prevent multiple age-related diseases, including infectious disease risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetformin use was tied to lower mortality in Wuhan COVID-19 patients with diabetes: 2.9% vs. 12.3%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLifestyle measures such as good nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep support immune function.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDo not self-medicate with metformin or rapamycin; these are experimental geroprotectors needing clinical trials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:end --\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"aging-risk\"\u003eAging as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 and Other Infections\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe data on COVID-19 is painfully clear on at least one point: \u003cstrong\u003eolder adults are the most vulnerable to hospitalization, disability, and death\u003c\/strong\u003e following infection with the novel coronavirus. As of April 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 77% of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States were people aged 65 and older.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe age-related risk is staggering. Among those infected, people aged 80 and older die at a rate that is \u003cstrong\u003e200 times higher\u003c\/strong\u003e than someone in their 20s. This vulnerability to infection is not new. Even before COVID-19, the risk of death attributed to pneumonia increased about \u003cstrong\u003e1,000-fold\u003c\/strong\u003e between ages 25 and 85.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis pattern means that the problem is not simply the virus itself, but the aging of the body that makes it so vulnerable. That is why the authors argue that a geroscience approach — targeting the aging process directly — is expected to be relevant not just for this pandemic, but for future infections, epidemics, and pandemics we have yet to face.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"geroscience\"\u003eWhat Is Geroscience?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGeroscience is a scientific field supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and other organizations that seeks to understand how the biology of aging drives age-related diseases. The central idea is that aging itself is the greatest risk factor for most chronic diseases, so modifying the aging process could delay, prevent, or treat multiple diseases all at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGeroscientists have long hypothesized that by targeting the biology of aging, all diseases of aging can be delayed. This is based on a well-established framework called the \u003cstrong\u003e\"hallmarks of aging\"\u003c\/strong\u003e — a set of interconnected biological processes that include genomic instability, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and others. These hallmarks are all connected, so targeting just one hallmark often results in improvements in the others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn animal studies, researchers have dramatically increased both health span (the years of life spent in good health) and life span by targeting these hallmarks with genetic tools and drugs such as metformin and rapamycin. This demonstrates that \u003cstrong\u003eaging is a modifiable condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, not an unchangeable fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"immune\"\u003eImmune Dysfunction and Inflammaging: The Aging Immune System\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOf particular importance in the COVID-19 pandemic are two aging-related changes that underlie the vulnerability of older adults to infections. The first is \u003cstrong\u003eimmunosenescence\u003c\/strong\u003e — the gradual weakening of the immune system as we age, which makes it harder to fight off new infections. The second is \u003cstrong\u003einflammaging\u003c\/strong\u003e — a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation that develops with age and can produce an excessive and harmful inflammatory response to an infection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut the authors emphasize that improving immunity and inflammation to younger levels is only part of the goal. Such approaches also increase an individual's \u003cstrong\u003eresiliency to withstand the sickness itself\u003c\/strong\u003e, since the whole body must respond to a major stressor like a coronavirus infection. By addressing the underlying biology of aging, geroscience aims to make the entire body more resilient, not just the immune system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"today\"\u003eWhat Can We Do Today?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOlder people are at such risk in part because the vigor of our immune response declines as we age. In addition, many are weakened by coexisting age-related conditions — such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease — that diminish resilience further. So, until a vaccine or effective treatment becomes available, how do we defend ourselves from infection beyond physical distancing and careful hand washing?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors recommend focusing on behaviors known to improve immune responses at any age:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEating well\u003c\/strong\u003e — a nutritious diet supports immune function and reduces inflammation\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExercising as regularly as possible\u003c\/strong\u003e — even at home, and even in increasingly confined long-term care facilities\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eManaging stress\u003c\/strong\u003e — chronic stress suppresses immune responses\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGetting enough sleep\u003c\/strong\u003e — sleep is critical for immune defense\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublic health interventions that ensure access to healthy foods and safe environments are also critical, particularly for vulnerable populations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"geroprotectors\"\u003eGeroprotectors: Existing Drugs That Target Aging\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to a healthy lifestyle, the authors propose exploring interventions with existing drugs that have established safety profiles and target the biology of aging, immune mechanisms, and resiliency. These are called \u003cstrong\u003e\"geroprotectors\"\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003e\"gerotherapeutics.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile many geroprotectors have been successfully tested in pre-clinical (animal) settings, to date \u003cstrong\u003enone has been approved as a geroprotector for use in humans\u003c\/strong\u003e. Consequently, the authors strongly discourage self-medication with any of these compounds. These are experimental approaches that require proper clinical trials and medical supervision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMetformin: A Promising Candidate\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most promising geroprotectors is \u003cstrong\u003emetformin\u003c\/strong\u003e, a drug already used by more than \u003cstrong\u003e100 million people worldwide\u003c\/strong\u003e as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Metformin has been shown to target multiple hallmarks of aging and to increase health span and life span in animals. Observational and clinical trials in humans show that metformin use is associated with lower rates of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCardiovascular disease\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCancer\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCognitive decline\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOverall mortality\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, research dating back to the \u003cstrong\u003e1940s\u003c\/strong\u003e pointed to metformin and metformin-like biguanide drugs as preventing influenza and increasing immune response in humans, both in living subjects (in vivo) and in laboratory tests (in vitro). Metformin has \u003cstrong\u003e60 years of clinical experience\u003c\/strong\u003e, an exceptional safety record, and is generic and very cheap — just a little more than \u003cstrong\u003e$0.10 per day\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMetformin has already shown protective capacity against COVID-19. In a retrospective analysis of \u003cstrong\u003e283 patients with type 2 diabetes\u003c\/strong\u003e from Wuhan, China, with confirmed COVID-19, investigators found no difference in the length of hospital stay. However, persons taking metformin had \u003cstrong\u003esignificantly lower in-hospital mortality: 3 of 104 patients (2.9%)\u003c\/strong\u003e compared with those not taking metformin, where \u003cstrong\u003e22 of 179 patients (12.3%)\u003c\/strong\u003e died. That is a dramatic difference.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMoreover, it was reported that diabetic women taking metformin had approximately a \u003cstrong\u003e20% decrease in mortality\u003c\/strong\u003e and approximately an \u003cstrong\u003e80% decrease in the inflammatory marker TNFα\u003c\/strong\u003e, a key molecule driving harmful inflammation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003emTOR Inhibitors: Rapamycin and Everolimus\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA second line of drugs are \u003cstrong\u003emTOR inhibitors\u003c\/strong\u003e, which have been shown to increase health span and life span in almost all animals tested, from yeast to rodents. The mTOR inhibitor \u003cstrong\u003erapamycin\u003c\/strong\u003e reverses age-related declines in influenza vaccine response in mice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTwo Phase 2 clinical trials completed by resTORbio Inc. showed that the rapamycin derivative \u003cstrong\u003eeverolimus\u003c\/strong\u003e could enhance influenza vaccine response in healthy elderly people. The second Phase 2 trial also reported something striking: those treated with mTOR inhibitors for just \u003cstrong\u003e6 weeks\u003c\/strong\u003e had significantly fewer respiratory tract infections over the following year compared to those who received a placebo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis suggests that short-term inhibition of mTOR may confer protection not only against the flu, but also against other common viruses — including other coronaviruses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"need\"\u003eThe Need to Advance Gerotherapeutics Now\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the current public health crisis disproportionately affecting our aging population, the authors argue it is imperative to start discussing pragmatic approaches to rapidly test these drugs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt this stage, \u003cstrong\u003ebroad clinical trials of potential geroprotective therapies are needed\u003c\/strong\u003e to enable extensive data collection and analysis of their potential benefits and indications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe potential public health impact is enormous. Metformin is broadly available, low-cost, and already taken chronically by more than 100 million people around the world. The authors note that even if only a small percentage of older people avoid hospitalization and death from COVID-19, the absolute benefits would be substantial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRapamycin has also been used clinically for many years with a well-established dosing and safety profile. While significant side effects are associated with high doses in patients undergoing daily rapamycin treatment (for example, organ transplant recipients), there is accumulating evidence that \u003cstrong\u003elower-dose treatment with rapamycin or its derivatives has minimal side effects in healthy individuals\u003c\/strong\u003e and may substantially improve immune function.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRandomized, controlled clinical trials are needed to assess whether rapamycin, metformin, and other potential geroprotective drugs can:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBoost response to an eventual COVID-19 vaccine in the elderly\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eProtect against COVID-19 infection altogether\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eReduce the severity of disease in those who do become infected\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"biotech\"\u003eBiotech and the Drug Pipeline\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOngoing basic research in geroscience will produce a \"pipeline\" of novel compounds being developed by biotechnology companies around the world. This may provide new insights into how we can modify the aging process and boost our immune response — perhaps even improving the performance of a COVID-19 vaccine whenever it becomes available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors are optimistic that continued investment in aging biology will yield a steady stream of new geroprotective candidates that can be tested against a wide range of infections and age-related diseases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"all-ages\"\u003eA Geroscience Approach Would Benefit Not Only the Chronologically Old\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEpidemiological data indicates that COVID-19 is particularly aggressive among older adults. However, even within that group, there is a large \u003cstrong\u003eheterogeneity of response\u003c\/strong\u003e: some individuals suffer severe effects and death, while others recover with symptoms little different from younger patients. This variability is a major characteristic of older populations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a need to identify those individuals, within an age cohort, who are \u003cstrong\u003ephysiologically younger or older than their chronological age\u003c\/strong\u003e. While some older adults are more robust than expected, others are more fragile. Those who are more fragile (physiologically older) are likely to benefit most from geroscience-based approaches to improve their health.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, significant heterogeneity has also been identified among younger individuals. People who are chronologically young but display an advanced physiological age — often due to multiple health conditions or accumulated damage — would also benefit from a geroscience approach. These high-risk groups include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePeople with multimorbidity (multiple chronic diseases) in addition to SARS-CoV-2 infection\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThose with previous events that leave lasting effects (sequelae), such as controlled HIV infection\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePeople who have undergone previous chemotherapy or radiation treatment\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe disabled\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePeople with obesity\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003ePeople living in poverty who cannot easily modify their interactions with the environment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"research\"\u003eStrategic Research Directions: Evaluation of Aging, Multimorbidity, and Frailty\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMultimorbidities — having multiple chronic diseases at once — have proven to be the \u003cstrong\u003emain risk factors for poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients\u003c\/strong\u003e. In older patients, multiple aging-related diseases are often affected by multiple risk factors, further increasing disability and mortality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors call for an urgent need to develop analytical methodologies that would allow a diagnostic evaluation of how several coexisting diseases contribute to COVID-19 outcomes. This includes identifying unique or combined parameters (biomarkers) that can serve as risk factors for the severity of disease. The ability to weigh risks from multiple diseases and their combinations may have critical implications for healthcare and social policy, both during the current crisis and in planning for future emergencies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral factors may be crucial for outcomes in elderly patients, for better or worse:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDrug medications, such as \u003cstrong\u003eACE inhibitors\u003c\/strong\u003e (commonly used for blood pressure and heart failure)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVaccinations (including influenza and pneumococcal vaccines)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eVitamins and other supplements\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOther interventions more prevalent in and differentially affecting older persons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe effectiveness of specific therapeutic regimens — such as different modes of oxygen delivery, resuscitation protocols, drugs, vaccines, and vaccine adjuvants — needs to be evaluated and adjusted specifically for older patients, whose management may differ dramatically from younger patients with critical illness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis multimorbidity evaluation should be combined with a \u003cstrong\u003esystematic assessment of aging and frailty status\u003c\/strong\u003e using standardized methods and measures. The authors call for strategies to conduct periodic frailty assessment with continuous, long-term follow-up of older persons. This could reveal not only global determinants of aging that are conserved across populations, but also local differences in aging and health around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey also emphasize the need to develop standardized biomarkers of biological and physiological age — both to assess and predict risks of age-related ill health and to evaluate the effectiveness of potential geroscience therapies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, the authors advocate for involving the wider public in these evaluation studies — not just as test subjects, but as active and empowered \u003cstrong\u003e\"citizen-scientists.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e Increasing public science education in geroscience can help people evaluate evidence and participate meaningfully in research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor such methodologies to work, it is essential to improve access, openness, sharing, and interoperability of clinical data on large groups of people — preferably long-term (longitudinal) data — including clinical conditions and diseases, demographic characteristics, and a wide range of evaluation parameters: biochemical, metabolic, immunological, physiological, and functional. Most of these data are already routinely available in clinical practice and research settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"policy\"\u003ePolicy Implications: Lessons From the Pandemic\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe COVID-19 global emergency has emphasized to vast numbers of people the vital need to prevent old-age multimorbidity, protect the elderly, and improve their health span. Geroscience proponents have argued for the importance of such preventive measures for many years. Now we are witnessing in real time the disastrous consequences of the lack of such measures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors argue that one of the most important lessons from this pandemic is the need to \u003cstrong\u003etherapeutically address degenerative aging processes\u003c\/strong\u003e to prevent aging-related ill health as a whole. This understanding should translate into public health and research policies supportive of geroscience — improving funding, incentives, education, and institutional support for the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConquering the current pandemic requires a multipronged approach:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe \"offensive\" approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e developing vaccines and treatments specific to COVID-19\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe \"defensive\" approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e strengthening the resilience of affected individuals, regardless of the specific pathogen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe offensive part is unfortunately both slow and specific to the current virus or pathogen. In contrast, the defensive approach is \u003cstrong\u003epathogen-blind\u003c\/strong\u003e — the interventions work regardless of the infectious agent. A geroscience-focused response deployed now will remain relevant for future infections, whether pandemic, epidemic, endemic, or even individual infections affecting any one person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"patients\"\u003eWhat This Means for Patients\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis editorial has several practical takeaways for patients and their families:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDo not self-medicate.\u003c\/strong\u003e None of the drugs discussed in this article (metformin, rapamycin, everolimus) has been approved as a geroprotector for human use. The authors explicitly discourage self-medication with any of these compounds. Taking prescription drugs without medical supervision can be dangerous.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on proven lifestyle measures.\u003c\/strong\u003e Eating well, exercising regularly (even at home), managing stress, and getting enough sleep are behaviors that help improve immune responses at any age. These are safe, effective, and available to everyone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIf you take metformin for type 2 diabetes, this research is reassuring.\u003c\/strong\u003e The data from Wuhan suggests that metformin use was associated with significantly lower mortality in diabetic COVID-19 patients (2.9% vs. 12.3%). Patients with diabetes should continue their prescribed medications and discuss any questions with their doctor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEvidence about other medications is still being gathered.\u003c\/strong\u003e For example, the question of whether ACE inhibitors (blood pressure medications) help or harm COVID-19 outcomes is still under investigation. Do not stop or change prescribed medications without consulting your healthcare provider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrailty matters more than the number of candles on the cake.\u003c\/strong\u003e Age is a risk factor, but so are multiple chronic conditions. Individuals with multimorbidity — even those who are chronologically younger — need extra protection and attention during the pandemic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClinical trials are how we will learn more.\u003c\/strong\u003e The authors urge rapid implementation of randomized, controlled trials of metformin, rapamycin, and other geroprotective drugs. Patients who are interested in participating in such research should discuss opportunities with their doctors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this research points toward a future where we treat aging itself as a modifiable condition — and in doing so, build a defense against infectious disease that works no matter what virus comes next.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich existing drugs might help protect against COVID-19?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo types of drugs are discussed: metformin, used for type 2 diabetes, and mTOR inhibitors like rapamycin and everolimus. These target aging processes and may improve immune response. However, they are experimental for this purpose, not approved as geroprotectors, and should not be self-medicated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow can older adults improve their immune response during the pandemic?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors recommend focusing on behaviors known to improve immune responses at any age: eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly even at home, managing stress, and getting enough sleep. Public health measures ensuring access to healthy foods and safe environments are also critical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe to self-medicate with metformin or rapamycin?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The authors explicitly discourage self-medication with any of these compounds because none has been approved as a geroprotector for human use. They are experimental approaches that require proper clinical trials and medical supervision. Taking prescription drugs without supervision can be dangerous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are older adults more vulnerable to COVID-19?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAging causes immunosenescence, a weakening of the immune system, and inflammaging, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Many older adults also have coexisting conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease that reduce resilience. As of April 2020, 77% of US COVID-19 deaths were people aged 65 and older.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does 'treat aging itself' mean for future pandemics?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA geroscience approach targeting the aging process is pathogen-blind, meaning it could protect against not only COVID-19 but also future infections, epidemics, and pandemics. By strengthening the whole body's resilience, it aims to reduce the severity of disease regardless of the specific virus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShould I seek a second opinion before taking metformin or rapamycin to protect against COVID-19 or future pandemics?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore using metformin, rapamycin, or everolimus for anti-aging or immune resilience during COVID-19, a second opinion is advisable. These drugs are not approved as geroprotectors, and self-medication is explicitly discouraged. A specialist can help evaluate whether you are a candidate for any ongoing clinical trial and weigh potential risks versus benefits, especially if you have multiple chronic conditions or frailty. For type 2 diabetes patients, metformin has been associated with lower COVID-19 mortality, but do not change prescribed medication without medical advice. Diagnostic Detectives Network provides independent expert second opinions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:end --\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Article Title:\u003c\/strong\u003e Geroscience in the Age of COVID-19\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nir Barzilai, James C. Appleby, Steven N. Austad, Ana Maria Cuervo, Matt Kaeberlein, Christian Gonzalez-Billault, Stephanie Lederman, Ilia Stambler, and Felipe Sierra\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJournal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aging and Disease, Volume 11, Number 4; pages 725-729, August 2020\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDOI:\u003c\/strong\u003e http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.14336\/AD.2020.0629\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAffiliations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Albert Einstein College of Medicine (USA), Gerontological Society of America (USA), University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA), University of Washington (USA), Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism GERO (Chile), Buck Institute for Research on Aging (USA), American Federation for Aging Research (USA), Vetek Association (Israel), and National Institute on Aging, NIH (USA)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis patient-friendly article is based on peer-reviewed research published in an open-access scientific journal. The original editorial reflects the expert opinions and analysis of the authors as of June 2020. Since that time, further research on COVID-19 and geroprotective therapies has continued to evolve.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47541996191900,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/diagnosticdetectives.com\/fr\/products\/geroscience-in-the-age-of-covid-19-why-targeting-aging-itself-might-protect-us-from-this-and-future-pandemics","provider":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}