Possible mechanisms of late-life-onset allergic diseases and asthma in thesenior citizen

The clinical spectrum of allergic diseases and asthma changes over the life span of the individual and is influenced by a wide variety of anatomic, ph ysiologic, and immunologic factors. Nowhere do these changes play a more im portant role than in the elderly patient with allergic disease or asthma wh ere the culmination of these events contribute to disease expression, which at rimes can result in irreversible endstage disease. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2030 the elderly population will increase by 75% and will represent a significant proportion of consumers of total health care resou rces. This presentation will examine possible mechanism(s) that contribute to the development of late-onset allergic diseases and asthma in the elderl y as a possible basis for identification of antecedents of endstage disease and interventive strategies for the prevention of the irreversible consequ ences in this population.