Short report

Understanding ageing: Biomedical and bioengineering approaches, the immunologic view

Matteo Bulati¹ , Mariavaleria Pellicanò¹ , Sonya Vasto^1,2 and Giuseppina Colonna-Romano¹

¹  Gruppo di Studio sull'immunosenescenza and Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Metodologie Biomediche, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

²  Unità Operativa di Immunoematologia e Medicina trasfusionale, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

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Immunity & Ageing 2008, 5:9doi:10.1186/1742-4933-5-9

Published:	3 September 2008

Abstract

During the past century, humans have gained more years of average life expectancy than in the last 10,000 years; we are now living in a rapidly ageing world. The sharp rise in life expectancy, coupled to a steady decline in birth rates in all developed countries, has led to an unprecedented demographic revolution characterized by an explosive growth in the number and proportion of older people. Ageing is a complex process that negatively impacts the development of the immune system and its ability to function. Progressive changes in the T and B cell systems over the life span have a major impact on the capacity to respond to immune challenge. These cumulative age-associated changes in immune competence are termed Immunosenescence: some immunological parameters are commonly notably reduced in the elderly and, reciprocally good function is tightly correlated to health status. Hence, a better understanding of Immunosenescence and the development of new strategies to counteract it are essential for improving the quality of life of the elderly population.