Study: Aging may prolong sickness symptoms

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study suggests aging may intensify and prolong feeling run down when illnesses such as influenza occur.

The study, conducted with mice, suggests miscommunication between the immune system and brain may cause extended sickness symptoms and other cognitive disorders in elderly people with an infection.

"In the course of our other studies ... we repeatedly saw old animals suffered an exaggerated inflammatory response in the brain compared to younger adults when their peripheral immune system was experimentally activated," said Rodney Johnson, a professor of integrative immunology and behavior.

"We felt this could be important, especially because immunity is often suppressed in the elderly, making them more susceptible to infections."

The research appears in the Federation of the American Societies of Experimental Biology Journal.