Scientists discover why flu and COVID hit older adults so hard
Why it matters: Understanding this mechanism could lead to targeted treatments that protect older adults from severe respiratory infections.
- Aging lungs are identified as a major factor in the heightened danger of flu and COVID-19 for older adults.
- Certain lung cells in older individuals initiate an exaggerated immune response.
- Inflammatory cell clusters are formed by this response, which ultimately damage lung tissue instead of protecting it.
New research indicates that aging lungs contribute significantly to the severity of flu and COVID-19 in older adults. Specific lung cells in older individuals can trigger an overactive immune response, forming damaging inflammatory cell clusters rather than protective ones.
