出版社：Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
摘要：In general, there are a growing number of persons in the so-called third age, as the life expectancy increases in our planet. The depression and inhibition of the cell division is assumed to be one among the many causes of clinically manifested disease development in the third age, since it may contribute to the decline of immunity. Decreased cell immunity in the elderly results mainly from the reduction of the number of T-cells, leading to the increased morbidity and mortality of seniors due to common infectious diseases such as pneumonia and influenza. Besides the depression of immune system efficiency, some of the studies dealing with the mechanism of the process of ageing take into consideration also the impact of toxic environmental substances on the cells of the body and their gradual functional impairment. Recently, it was established that also the life style may affect the morbidity and morbidity rate in seniors. Smoking habit is supposed to be the serious risk factor in the development of disease such as the hypertension, atherosclerosis, ulcerous gastric disease, catarrhs of respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, diseases of kidneys and cancer. According to WHO data the life expectancy of smokers is shortened approximately 8 - 10 years. The combined effect of smoking and exposure to noxious substances from the environment may then result in a pronounced adverse health effect in seniors. Developed countries support the biomedical geriatric research focused on the prevention of ageing, aimed at the retardation of this process, keeping physical and mental vitality and augmentation of the quality of life.
