LINKAGE-Camden COVID-19 study passes 600 volunteers

 LINKAGE is following the health and wellbeing, of a group of over 70’s in the Camden area, specifically in relation to delirium and dementia. This research investigates a person’s cognition and mobility throughout periods of illness. The aim of LINKAGE to better understand why people recover from illness differently. By knowing this, clinicians may be able to design care to better suit the needs of people in hospital. The original design of the LINKAGE study has meant it is in the perfect position to be able to follow participants at all stages of infection: from being well, into early infection and throughout the course of the illness. This is essential to identify the mechanisms underlying progression to fatal illness or recovery. Although age appears to be a major factor in developing severe disease, there are likely to be other factors determining why some people die, while others have mild disease.

As part of the study, pre and post infection throat swabs and blood samples, as well as weekly health assessment are being collected. An important goal with these samples will be to determine pre-infection antibody levels against other coronaviruses. One theory of why COVID-19 affects older people more severely is that the older you get, the more other strains of coronavirus you have previously been exposed to, which leads to the immune system reacting more exaggerated. This of course, has implications for whether a vaccine is the answer, and if it is answer, how a vaccine should be developed.

The study grateful to everyone who has so far signed up to participate, as well as the clinicians, phlebotomists, nurses, students and volunteers who made the study possible.