Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID) in older adults
Russell, SJ; Parker, K; Lehoczki, A; et al., GeroScience, December 2024
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Short Summary
In this paper, RECOVER researchers reviewed existing research to better understand how Long COVID affects older adults. Early research on Long COVID often combined adults ages 18 and older, which makes it difficult to see how Long COVID presents in older adults alone. To learn more, researchers looked at more than 600 studies with keywords like “elderly” and “aged” and focused on adults ages 65 and older. The studies showed that many older adults do not report having Long COVID symptoms. This is because health problems like fatigue, joint pain, or brain fog can be labeled as symptoms of normal aging or other health conditions instead of Long COVID. This research is important because it highlights the need for doctors to identify, track, and provide care for Long COVID symptoms in older adults. It also emphasizes that more research is needed on Long COVID in this population.
This summary was prepared by the RECOVER Initiative.
Publication Details
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01227-8
Abstract
Long COVID, also known as PASC (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2), is a complex infection-associated chronic condition affecting tens of millions of people worldwide. Many aspects of this condition are incompletely understood. Among them is how this condition may manifest itself in older adults and how it might impact the older population. Here, we briefly review the current understanding of PASC in the adult population and examine what is known on its features with aging. Finally, we outline the major gaps and areas for research most germane to older adults.Authors
Samantha J Russell, Karen Parker, Andrea Lehoczki, David Lieberman, Indu S Partha, Serena J Scott, Linda R Phillips, Mindy J Fain, Janko Ž Nikolich
Keywords
Clinical presentation; Long COVID; Molecular mechanisms; Older adults; SARS-CoV-2