Covid-19 effects in the elderly tracked in ongoing study

To better understand the impact of Covid-19 on the elderly, and to find out why the virus disproportionality affects this age group, LINKAGE has developed the 'Covid-19 sub-study'. Lead researcher Dr Daniel Davis (UCL Population Science & Experimental Medicine), said: "The original design of the LINKAGE study has meant we are in the perfect position to follow participants at all stages of infection: from being well, into early infection and throughout the course of the illness. "We know that outcomes from Covid-19 are particularly bad for the elderly and what is unique about our group was that these were older people we already knew quite a lot about. "When the epidemic was rolling out, we realised the value of that. If you are going to develop a vaccine, you need to know what the immune system of an older person was like before they got it."  Existing LINKAGE study participants received a letter in March, asking if they would be willing to volunteer to the sub-study. Those who agreed are visited once by healthcare workers in PPE for swab and blood samples to be taken and then receive follow-up health assessment by way of a phone call. Scientists at UCL are working with experts at Imperial College London, led by Professor Michael Levin, to analyse these samples to determine the person's antibody levels and find any indicators which might suggest whether the patient would develop mild or severe symptoms if exposed to Covid-19.