immunosenescence


immunosenescence

(ĭm″ū-nō-sĭ-nĕs′ĕns) The age-associated decline of the immune system and host defense mechanisms. Elderly individuals frequently have a decline in cell-mediated immunity and secondary declines in humoral immunity. The clinician caring for an older patient can assume that the individual has defective host defenses, is at greater risk for developing an infectious disease, and has an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases.