On April 23, 2020, leapsmag published an essay co-authored by AFAR expert Nir Barzilai, MD, on the dire importance to attack viruses that disproportionately affect older adults such as COVID-19 through promising therapeutics that target the biology of aging.
In the essay, Dr. Barzilai highlights how several drugs such as metformin and mTOR show great promise for extending healthspan and lifespan, help slow the processes of aging, and delay the diseases of aging. Testing their impact on the effects of aging may therefore lower the impact of viruses such as COVID-19.
Dr. Barzilai advocates that the Department of Health and Human Service’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) begin funding clinical trials studying the biology of aging and how these existing drugs can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and future viruses.
The AFAR-managed TAME Trial would be one such trial to provide proof-of-concept that the biology of aging can be targeted through therapeutics.
Dr. Barzilai is AFAR’s Scientific Director, a 1994 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty recipient, a 1997 Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging scholar, a 2010 Irving S. Wright Award winner, and the Director at the Institute for Aging Research and distinguished Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Read the essay, “Drugs That Could Slow Aging May Hold Promise for Protecting the Elderly from COVID-19,” here.
Learn more about the TAME Trial here.
