Scenario 4 - Immune Response
The immune system undergoes many changes during the aging process, as reflected in diminished T-cell responses to recall antigens, decreased antibody formation to foreign antigens, and increased autoantibody formation. Diminished immune responsiveness is a predictor of morbidity and mortality. It may also underlie the fact that infectious disease is one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population, particularly in nursing-home patients. Over many years of study, one of the most consistently demonstrated manifestations of age-related immune system decline is reduced responsiveness to immunization.

There is a pressing need to clarify mechanisms underlying poor responses and to predict which people may need more than simple vaccination for protection against infection. As a practicing Geriatrician, you are worried about issues like these and wish to develop medical interventions that might assist in mitigating the diminished immune response. You start by considering the following problem.

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