An elderly patient is more likely to develop infections than a younger individual due to the:
A) Decreased hormone levels
B) Decreased function of T lymphocytes
C) Increased function of B lymphocytes
D) Increased humoral immunity
Ans: B
Feedback: The frequency and severity of infections are increased in elderly people, possibly due to the decreased ability to respond adequately to invading organisms. Both the production and the function of T and B lymphocytes may be impaired. Aging has an impact on the immune system that can best be summarized as immunosenescence, a problem thought to be a result of involution of the thymus. Decreasing hormone levels do not place the elderly in an immunocompromised state. The greatest impact of aging on the immune system is on cell-mediated immunity; age has a lesser but substantial impact on humoral immunity.
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