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Elderly at time of COronaVIrus disease 2019 (COVID-19): possible role of immunosenescence and malnutrition.

Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. giuseppe.rengo@unina.it. Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA Società Benefit (ICS Maugeri SpA SB), Telese Terme, BN, Italy. giuseppe.rengo@unina.it. Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. WAO Center of Excellence, Naples, Italy. National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore" (IEOS), Naples, Italy.

GeroScience. 2020;(4):1089-1092
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Abstract

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly and unpredictably evolving and the majority of deaths are occurring in older people. A partial description of the magnitude of the scenario is provided by numbers and statistics, which probably underestimate the ongoing tragedy. In the present opinion paper, we have focused our attention on the evidence of the relationship among malnutrition, immunosenescence, and the higher morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. In particular, we propose the intriguing hypothesis that correction of nutritional deficits may attenuate the age-dependent alterations of the innate and adaptive immune system which participate in the increased susceptibility and worse outcome observed in the elderly COVID-19 patients.