Full Description
The preparation of Aging, Immunity, and Infection has been a "labor of labor. " When we began, there existed a huge literature-but manage able, we thought, given our years of experience in the area often referred to as immunogerontology. However, in the time that we have been at work, the new relevant literature has increased at a prodigious rate. The more we read and tried to assimilate, the farther we fell behind. In order to have any hope of completing a book on this rapidly evolving topic, we have been forced to become increasingly selective in covering new and re cent publications. We dare to hope that many read ers will find the book useful and only a few will dweIl on the inevitable inadequacies. We consider the book a work in progress, and welcome suggestions for future editions. Five chapters cover several aspects of infection and the decline of immunity with age. The first chapter "Human Aging: Present and Future," is devoted to demographics and theories of senescence. Chap ter 2 outlines the gradual breakdown of resistance to infection in the aged individual. Chapters 3 and 4 cover changes in innate and acquired immunity. The final chapter, "Nutrition, Longevity, and Integrity of the Immune System," discusses such provocative ideas as life-span exten sion and nutritional intervention for the delay of immunosenescence.
Contents
1 Human Aging: Present and Future.- Demographics.- Infectious Diseases of the Aging.- Limits on Life Expectancy and Future Prospects.- Theories of Senescence.- Summary.- References.- 2 Aging and Altered Resistance to Infection.- Relatively Common Bacterial Infections of Aging Humans.- Selected Examples of Age-Associated Susceptibility to Bacterial Infections.- Bacterial Interactions with Mucosal Surfaces.- Antibiotic Resistance and Bacterial Variation.- Viral Infections in Aging Humans.- Protozoan Parasites in Aging Subjects.- Fungal Infections in Aging Subjects.- Summary.- References.- 3 Senescence of Natural/Innate Resistance to Infection.- Pattern Recognizing Receptors of Innate Immunity.- Phagocytic Cells: Monocytes/Macrophages.- Microbial Evasion of Phagocytic Destruction.- Age-Related Changes in Macrophages.- Phagocytic Cells: Neutrophils.- Natural Killer/Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells.- Summary.- References.- 4 Aging of Adaptive/Acquired Immunity.- Aging of the Thymus and Thymus-Derived (T) Cells.- The Functions and Diversity of Peripheral T Cells.- Summary: Known and Cognizable Effects of Aging T Cells.- Differentiation, Functions, and Aging of B Cells.- Summary.- References.- 5 Nutrition, Longevity, and Integrity of the Immune System.- RCI-Mediated Delay of Immunosenescence.- How Does RCI Promote Life-Span Extension?.- Dietary Restriction vs Malnutrition.- References.- Epilogue.
