Elderly Risks explores why older adults faced disproportionately high mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how age-related immune decline, known as immunosenescence, and chronic inflammation, referred to as inflammaging, increased seniors' susceptibility to severe outcomes.
The book highlights the significance of comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in exacerbating the effects of viral infections in this vulnerable population. Public health strategies and geriatric care improvements are emphasized as crucial for protecting older adults. Investigating the pandemic's impact, the book analyzes global health data and clinical studies.
It considers how social determinants like healthcare access and socioeconomic status influenced the challenges faced by seniors. Vaccines played a pivotal role in mitigating risks, making vaccine efficacy and safety key topics. The book progresses through three parts, first introducing aging as a risk factor, then analyzing COVID-19's specific challenges for older adults, and finally focusing on the role of vaccines.
Ultimately, Elderly Risks advocates for age-focused public health policies and proactive measures to enhance the resilience of older populations against future infectious disease threats. Its comprehensive approach integrates perspectives from gerontology, immunology, public health, and health policy, offering actionable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and caregivers alike.
