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Picking the Right Camp A trifecta of wellness The trifecta of improved immunity is nutrition (particularly fruits and vegetables), exercise and sleep says Eric Verdin, president and CEO of the Buck Institute. – Photo courtesy The Buck Institute By Eric Verdin, President and CEO of the Buck Institute Special to the Marin IJ T here has rightly been a lot of discussion about the disproportionate effect COVID-19 is having on older adults. As the data contin- ues to roll in, it is becoming apparent that there are other groups who have also been disproportionately affected — specifically those with underlying im- mune issues and those with pre-existing conditions, especially metabolic disorders like Type 2 diabetes. In fact, I'd argue that the reason that older adults are more susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19 is because aging predisposes people to immune and metabolic dysfunction, as well as other conditions like heart and lung diseases. And of course, all these factors are linked. An article in the New York Times discusses the ravages of the metabolic syndrome on the immune system and how this might be impacting hospitaliza- tions from COVID-19. A keystone principle of the Buck Institute is that biological age and chronological age are frequently not the same. Data from laboratory interventions and studies of lifestyle factors make it clear that one can have a much "younger" biological age than the date on their birth certificate suggests. What does this mean for COVID-19 risk? It means that there are some lifestyle choices that can make a difference, particularly in how we impact our metabolic and im- mune health, and potentially make us more resistant to diseases like COVID-19. I'd like to discuss some tried and true (as in, clinically Immunity Boosting A good practice anytime The Buck Institute's CEO weighs in on health, COVID-19 and being a senior 10 October 18, 2020 Senior Style A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com