For those with low level of maximum lung function at 30 to 40 years of age, those with rapid decline develop COPD within two years. Further, we found that decline in lung function is attenuated in smokers with Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic ethnicity. In Hispanics, this resistance to decline in lung function was directly associated with the percentage of Native American ancestry in Hispanic participants. These findings give us opportunities to understand the molecular cause for resistance to decline in lung function. Understanding these mechanisms of resilience could reveal effective therapies for susceptible individuals.
