The experts explained why the flu is especially dangerous in old age.
According to doctors, older people who become ill with the flu, quite often die from the fact that they have destroyed the body’s defenses, not because of the virus itself. It showed a new study conducted by researchers from Yale University.
Experts in the field of medicine claim that the immune system of the elderly simply are not able to detect infection of influenza, and this allows the virus to proliferate with impunity in the body. It also established an important pattern: white blood cells promote inflammation, which damages the lungs. It is the development of key antiviral proteins known as interferons, significantly decreased in elderly age at the time of Contracting the flu.
These e findings were made in the course of study surveillance data for young and old laboratory mice. As it turned out, young rodents had a more rapid immune response to influenza infection. But in the body of the old mice had virtually no major anti-viral proteins.
Scientists say that a drug that blocks inflammatory enzymes, can significantly improve the chances of survival in older people infected with flu.
According to statistical data revealed that nine out of ten deaths from flu in people over 65 years happens every year. This means that the results can have a positive effect on the health of older people. So the researchers believe.
