Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly
Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection affecting individuals of all ages, with a significantly higher incidence among the elderly. As the aging population grows, pneumonia is expected to become an increasingly critical health concern. In non-institutionalized elderly individuals, the annual inc...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/41 |
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| author | Nathan Kang Veedamali S. Subramanian Anshu Agrawal |
| author_facet | Nathan Kang Veedamali S. Subramanian Anshu Agrawal |
| author_sort | Nathan Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection affecting individuals of all ages, with a significantly higher incidence among the elderly. As the aging population grows, pneumonia is expected to become an increasingly critical health concern. In non-institutionalized elderly individuals, the annual incidence ranges from 25 to 44 per 1000, approximately four times higher than in those under 65. <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>, a Gram-positive diplococcus, is the leading cause of pneumonia-related deaths in older adults. Management of <i>S. pneumoniae</i> infections in the elderly is challenging due to impaired antibody responses to polysaccharides and surface proteins, compounded by rising antibiotic resistance. The underlying mechanisms for increased susceptibility remain unclear, but age-related changes in the immune system, particularly in dendritic cells and T cells, are implicated. This review explores how aging-related immune alterations contribute to the heightened vulnerability of the elderly to <i>S. pneumoniae</i> infections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-119268de129843daac7a4c3330200a30 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-119268de129843daac7a4c3330200a302025-01-24T13:44:42ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-01-011414110.3390/pathogens14010041Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the ElderlyNathan Kang0Veedamali S. Subramanian1Anshu Agrawal2Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USADivision of Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USAPneumonia is a common respiratory infection affecting individuals of all ages, with a significantly higher incidence among the elderly. As the aging population grows, pneumonia is expected to become an increasingly critical health concern. In non-institutionalized elderly individuals, the annual incidence ranges from 25 to 44 per 1000, approximately four times higher than in those under 65. <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>, a Gram-positive diplococcus, is the leading cause of pneumonia-related deaths in older adults. Management of <i>S. pneumoniae</i> infections in the elderly is challenging due to impaired antibody responses to polysaccharides and surface proteins, compounded by rising antibiotic resistance. The underlying mechanisms for increased susceptibility remain unclear, but age-related changes in the immune system, particularly in dendritic cells and T cells, are implicated. This review explores how aging-related immune alterations contribute to the heightened vulnerability of the elderly to <i>S. pneumoniae</i> infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/41aging<i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>immunity |
| spellingShingle | Nathan Kang Veedamali S. Subramanian Anshu Agrawal Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly Pathogens aging <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> immunity |
| title | Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly |
| title_full | Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly |
| title_short | Influence of Aging and Immune Alterations on Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Pneumonia in the Elderly |
| title_sort | influence of aging and immune alterations on susceptibility to pneumococcal pneumonia in the elderly |
| topic | aging <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> immunity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/41 |
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