#Covid19 is affecting every demographic, but perhaps none more so than seniors. It’s not just because they’re more likely to have pre-existing conditions or live in cramped nursing homes—it’s everything. They are being hit in a variety of ways 1/ wired.trib.al/59LrxUk
It starts with this: Seniors are at a much higher risk of contracting coronavirus. Whether they live in a long-term care facility or a family home, many have unique needs that make it impossible for them to socially distance 2/
Even older adults who live in their own homes often get assistance from health aides who may take public transit, serve multiple clients, and—like many other essential workers—are unable to shelter in place while doing their job 3/
Seniors often have comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, which make the effects of the virus worse. Both are associated with greater expression of the ACE2 receptor, a protein the virus latches onto to start replicating 4/
Immunosenescence—the slow deterioration of the immune system—makes them even more susceptible. As people age, their vast reservoirs of T-cells and B-cells deplete, and as a result, they have a less robust immune system response to new infections 5/
Recovery is more complicated, too. Older adults are likely to be weaker and to recover more slowly after a hospitalization. With so many hospital gyms, rehab, and physical therapy facilities closed, that’s going to make their progress even more difficult 6/
The scary part? They are also less likely to benefit from a vaccine. Because seniors don’t raise the same immune response as younger people, they generally don’t respond as well to vaccines. And they aren’t always included in clinical trials 7/
Social distancing comes with its own consequences. It can leave people isolated and lonely, which can lead to serious health problems including worse cognitive function, higher blood pressure, and heart disease 8/
None of these issues—loneliness, immunosenescence, difficulty recovering from hospital stays—are new problems, and none are unique to Covid-19. But the novel coronavirus exacerbates the challenges older people already face 9/ wired.trib.al/59LrxUk
