With a growing world population of the aged in a state of immunological decline, there is an urgent need to develop new methods to delay or, better yet, prevent the loss of immune function. In Aging, Immunity, and Infection, the prominent immunogerontologists Joseph and Julia Albright, critically review the major features and functions of the immune system that are most likely, or known, to be significantly altered by aging, and offer insightful analyses of the consequences for those aging subjects who must cope with infection. Topics of special interest include the demographics and theories of immunosenescence, the gradual breakdown of resistance to infection in the aged, and the effects of aging on selected mechanisms of both innate and adaptive immunity to infections. The Albrights also suggest how advances may be made in understanding the basic biology of immunosenescence, newer methods of treatment and prevention, and offer an evaluation of such provocative ideas as nutritional intervention and lifespan extension in immunosenescence. Chapter summaries-along with lists of key research areas and recent advances-provide a framework for greater insight into major aspects of the problem and its emerging solutions.
Informative and forward-looking, Aging, Immunity, and Infection offers geriatricians, infectious disease specialists, and immunologists a state-of-the-art understanding of the deleterious effects of aging on the immune system, even as it provides a basis for research on how best to strengthen immunity in the elderly and reduce their susceptibility to infectious diseases.

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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.

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Human Aging: Present and Future Demographics Infectious Diseases of the Aging Limits on Life Expectancy and Future Prospects Theories of Senescence Chapter Summary References 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 Chapter Summary References 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 Chapter Summary References 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 Chapter Summary References 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 Index