COVID-19, Aging, and Mental Health: Lessons From the First Six Months

The earliest epidemiological findings from the COVID-19 pandemic have made clear that the disease had a disproportionately high impact on mortality and morbidity in older adults.1 Over the subsequent 6 months leading up to the time of writing, a significantly more complex picture is emerging that points to a much broader impact on the mental health of older adults.2 While the initial focus has been on understanding the impact of the virus itself on infected older adults, clinicians and researchers around the world have recognized that there are also major challenges arising from the resulting lockdown and quarantine measures.