Associations of epigenetic aging and COVID- 19

Epigenetic marker DNA methylation is known to be influenced by aging and COVID- 19, potentially affecting the rate of aging and the risk of disease. 

The authors assessed maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max), grip strength,and  vertical jump and  in 54 volunteers before the COVID- 19 pandemic and again 3 years later. 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).

The authors found that having COVID- 19 during the 3-year study period significantly increased the progress of aging assessed by DNAmGrimAge, DNAmGrimAge2, and DNAmFitAge

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

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

https://sciencemission.com/Associations-of-epigenetic-aging-and-COVID%E2%80%90-19