The 90 plus: longevity and COVID-19 survival

Author(s)

Zatz, Mayana ; Silva, Monize V. R. ; de Castro, Mateus, V ; Naslavsky, Michel S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY; v. 27, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2022-02-08.

Abstract

The world population is getting older and studies aiming to enhance our comprehension of the underlying mechanisms responsible for health span are of utmost interest for longevity and as a measure for health care. In this review, we summarized previous genetic association studies (GWAS) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of elderly cohorts. We also present the updated hypothesis for the aging process, together with the factors associated with healthy aging. We discuss the relevance of studying older individuals and build databanks to characterize the presence and resistance against late-onset disorders. The identification of about 2 million novel variants in our cohort of more than 1000 elderly Brazilians illustrates the importance of studying highly admixed populations of non-European ancestry. Finally, the ascertainment of nonagenarians and particularly of centenarians who were recovered from COVID-19 or remained asymptomatic opens new avenues of research aiming to enhance our comprehension of biological mechanisms associated with resistance against pathogens. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/09702-1 - Study of protective genetic variants in resilient nonagenarians and centenarians
• Grantee: Mateus Vidigal de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/08028-1 - CEGH-CEL - Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center
• Grantee: Mayana Zatz
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 14/50931-3 - Aging and genetic disorders: genomics and metagenomics
• Grantee: Mayana Zatz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants