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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Special Topic > Aging Changes in Immunity: Background

Aging Changes in Immunity


•	Background
•	Aging changes
•	Effect of changes
•	Common problems
•	Disease prevention
•	Related topics
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Immune System Structures

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Background

Aging is not synonymous with illness. However, getting older does increase the risk for many diseases and disorders. Overall, elderly people have an increased rate of chronic disorders, arteriosclerosis, infections, autoimmune disorders, and cancer .

This increased risk may be caused, in part, by the nature of these disorders. Most of the chronic disorders such as arteriosclerosis are slowly progressive and do not show symptoms until they have been progressing for years.

Another significant part of this increased risk is probably related to aging changes in the immune system. The immune system protects against diseases. It seeks out and destroys viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancerous cells before they can damage the body. It learns to tell the difference between "self" tissue and "non-self" particles.

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• Background
• Aging changes
• Effect of changes
• Common problems
• Disease prevention
• Related topics
• Pictures & Images

Review Date : 12/23/2002
Reviewed By : Steven Angelo, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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