Hijmans W
Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 1983 Jun;14(3):105-8.
The function of most organs decline in function of ageing and the immune system forms no exception. It has been shown that atrophy of the thymus plays a central role in these diminished immune reactions and also in two other immunogerontological phenomena: auto-antibodies and idiopathic paraproteinaemia. Already at this stage of our knowledge the information is of practical value in geriatric medicine. Immunological research can also contribute to our understanding of diseases of ageing and further our insight into the process of ageing itself.
大多数器官的功能会随着年龄的增长而衰退，免疫系统也不例外。研究表明，胸腺萎缩在这些免疫反应减弱以及另外两种免疫老年病学现象（自身抗体和特发性副蛋白血症）中起着核心作用。就我们目前的知识水平而言，这一信息在老年医学中具有实际价值。免疫学研究也有助于我们理解衰老相关疾病，并加深我们对衰老过程本身的认识。
