A study published in Nature Communications investigated whether COVID-19 is associated with changes in biological aging and telomere parameters. For this purpose, blood samples from 413 COVID-19 patients and 232 healthy comparison subjects were analyzed.
The researchers used several so-called epigenetic clocks as well as a DNA methylation-based estimator of telomere length. The study revealed greater epigenetic age acceleration and more pronounced estimated telomere shortening in COVID-19 patients than in healthy comparison subjects. The changes were more pronounced in severe cases of the disease.
How was the study conducted?
The researchers analyzed DNA methylation patterns from blood samples and calculated several markers of biological age from them. In addition, an estimated telomere length was determined using a methylation-based method.
A total of 413 people with COVID-19 were compared with 232 healthy control subjects. Within the COVID-19 group, differences between milder and more severe disease courses were also examined.
It is important to note: In this study, telomere length was not measured directly in the laboratory, but was calculated from epigenetic data. The results should therefore not be equated with a direct telomere measurement.
What results were observed?
On average, the COVID-19 group showed greater epigenetic age acceleration than the healthy comparison group. This difference was more pronounced in cases with more severe disease courses.
The estimated value for telomere length, calculated from DNA methylation data, was also shorter in COVID-19 patients. The results therefore support a link between COVID-19 and changes in biological aging markers.
In a smaller group with repeated measurements, there were indications that some of these changes could diminish during the recovery phase. However, due to the small amount of longitudinal data, this finding should be interpreted with caution.
How should the results be interpreted?
The study provides evidence that a COVID-19 infection may be associated with changes in certain epigenetic age markers and a computationally estimated shortening of telomere length.
However, the results initially show correlations. They do not prove that COVID-19 directly causes a permanent acceleration of biological aging. Furthermore, telomere length was not measured directly, but estimated from DNA methylation patterns.
The indication from the longitudinal data that some of the changes might decrease again during recovery is particularly interesting. However, larger longitudinal studies are required for robust conclusions regarding long-term consequences.
Original publication
You can find the complete study and further details on methodology, epigenetic age markers, and results in the original publication.
To the scientific publication →
Further research
Further research on COVID-19 and telomeres
Another study examined telomere length after a COVID-19 infection compared to uninfected control subjects.
To the article "Telomere length after COVID-19: Results of a cohort study" →
