Inflammation and Ageing

Question 1

What is meant by immunosenescence?

Answer 1

Immunological changes that occur with advancing age.

Question 2

State 2 substances which are pro-ageing.

Answer 2

IL-6. CRP. HSSP90. TNF alpha.

Question 3

State 2 substances which are anti-ageing.

Answer 3

TGF. IL-10. Cortisol.

Question 4

Why does inflammation increases with age?

Answer 4

Antibody titres diminish. Vaccine responses diminish. Comorbidity contributes. Malnutrition.

Question 5

State 2 clinical conditions associated with age.

Answer 5

Tuberculosis. Shingles (herpes zoster virus - patient with chickenpox). Herpes virus. Giant cell arteritis. Increase in cancer deaths.

Question 6

What happens to the level of T cells in the body?

Answer 6

T cell count falls. CD4:CD8 ratio falls.

Question 7

What happens to the level of autoantibodies with age?

Answer 7

Increases.

Question 8

Is there a lower or higher incidence of autoimmune diseases with age?

Answer 8

Lower (as diminished naive T cells - thymic decline) - except for osteoarthritis.

Question 9

What happens to the levels of C-Reactive Protein (Increases in response to inflammation) and IL-6 with age?

Answer 9

Increases.

Question 10

What do high levels of C-reactive protein suggest?

Answer 10

Higher risk of a heart attack.