Aging Diminishes Mucociliary Clearance of the Lung

Healthy aging leads to a decrease in mucociliary clearance of the lung. Mucociliary clearance is an essential innate immune defense to protect against inhaled particles and microbes. Mucociliary clearance can be affected by changes in cilia function as well as mucus quantity and qualities. With aging, cilia beat frequency slows and there are changes to the characteristics of mucus. These decreases in mucociliary clearance may lead to lung infection such as pneumonia or airway diseases such as bronchiectasis or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.