Associations of epigenetic aging and COVID- 19: A 3-year longitudinal study, 2025, Farkas et al

[Wyva]

Abstract

Aging and COVID- 19 are known to influence DNA methylation, potentially affecting the rate of aging and the risk of disease. The physiological functions of 54 volunteers—including maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max), grip strength, and vertical jump—were assessed just before the COVID- 19 pandemic and again 3 years later.

Of these volunteers, 27 had contracted COVID- 19. Eight epigenetic clocks were used to assess the rate of aging during the 3-year period: DNAmAge showed accelerated aging, and five clocks showed slowed aging (DNAmAgeSkinBlood, DNAmAgeHannum, DNAmFitAge, PhenoAge, and DNAmTL). When we considered only females, we observed a stronger effect in the increase of DNAmAge acceleration, while we observed slowed aging in the case of SkinBloodClock, and DNAmTL.

The methylation of the promoter region of the H1 FNT genes, which encodes testis-specific histone H1 family member N (H1fnt) and plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis decreased the most significantly. In contrast, the promoter of CSTL1, which encodes Cystatin-like 1, showed the most significant increase.

We found that having COVID- 19 during the 3-year study period significantly increased the progress of aging assessed by DNAmGrimAge, DNAmGrimAge2, and DNAmFitAge (p = 0.024, 0.047, 0.032, respectively, after we adjusted the analysis for baseline variables). The data suggest that COVID- 19 may have a mild long-term effect on epigenetic aging.

Open access: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01635-4

 

[Wyva]

Not strictly long covid but I'm posting this because someone might find it interesting.

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

I think link should be https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01635-4

 

[Wyva]

I think link should be https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01635-4

Oops, you are right, sorry. I have edited my post. ME moment!

 

[Utsikt]

The data suggest that COVID- 19 may have a mild long-term effect on epigenetic aging.

I wouldn’t mind it if this got the attention of the multibillion dollar anti-ageing industry.

 

[Yann04]

I wouldn’t mind it if this got the attention of the multibillion dollar anti-ageing industry.

There’s nothing to sell, so probably not.

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

We studied the relationship between physical fitness levels and DNA-methylation-based aging clocks just before the appearance of the COVID- 19 pandemic. We recalled and measured our subjects 3 years after the first sampling and had an opportunity to study the possible effects of COVID- 19 infection on the level of physical fitness and DNA methylation.

Surprisingly, the data revealed that male participants or subjects who did not contract COVID- 19 showed an improvement in vertical jump performance—an indicator of lower extremity explosive strength—over the 3-year period, likely due to increased physical activity during the pandemic. This finding was supported by DNA methylation-based aging clocks (DNAmAgeSkinBlood, DNAmFitAge, PhenoAge, and DNAmTL), which also showed slowed aging in males or noninfected subjects.

Quite an interesting observation and interpretation given that we're constantly being told that LC is due to lockdowns, poor diet, reduction in physical fitness and deconditioning.

 

[jnmaciuch]

Quite an interesting observation and interpretation given that we're constantly being told that LC is due to lockdowns, poor diet, reduction in physical fitness and deconditioning.

That caught my eye too. I guess the lockdowns were awful for humanity in every possible way, except they gave people the opportunity to perfect their 4 ft. vertical leap (sarcasm).