We are told Covid-19 is more dangerous
for seniors
but as with most things nothing is absolute and there
have been inspiring stories about very elderly Americans beating the
disease. One of those people is William
“Bill” Lapshies, who at 104 years old contracted the disease in early March and
on April 1st was declared virus-free.
Doctors are seeking answers to why
some people are asymptomatic or experience a milder form of the disease, while
others do not, and want to learn more about what makes some of much more
vulnerable. One answer may be that as we
age, our immune system functions decline, a process that the medical field
refers to as Immunosenescence.
Insoo Kang, M.D., associate professor
of medicine and director of allergy, immunology and internal medicine at the
Yale School of Medicine, states that, “Immune cells, especially CD8+ T cells [a
type of white blood cell], change with aging. We see fewer naive CD8+ T cells,
which are needed to recognize newly emerging microorganisms like the COVID-19
virus. It happens to everyone on some level, just not at the same rate."
Doctors hope by better understanding
why our immune system declines with age, they may be able to find ways to slow the
decline and raise people’s immune reserves for the next illness they may encounter. In addition research suggests there are steps
we can take to strengthening our own immune system and include exercising,
eating well, managing our weigh, controlling stress levels and getting vaccinations. Atul Butte, M.D., distinguished professor of
epidemiology, biostatistics and pediatrics at the University of California, San
Francisco, feels sure that “the COVID-19 pandemic will, in the end, teach us
more about our health vulnerabilities — individually and as an aging
population.”
MorningStar at Golden Ridge’s distinct
mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other
senior living options. Our foundation is
built on honoring God, valuing our seniors and hiring staff with a felt calling
to serve. We are in a warm, loving
environment with exceptional architecture and resort-style amenities. Please visit our website to learn more about trusted
independent living & assisted living in the Phoenix area.
Source:
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-immunity-age-risk.html?intcmp=AE-HP-TTN-R2-POS4-REALPOSS-TODAY
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