The Aging Lung: Clinical and Imaging Findings and the Fringe of Physiological State Die alternde Lunge: Klinisch-radiologische Aspekte und die Grenzen von Physiologischem und Pathologischem

In 2050 more than 40% of the population of Germany will be over 60 years of age, whereas in particular those over 80 years of age will increase disproportionately and could reach approx. 15% [1]. The anticipated life expectancy of today’s 60-year-old is about 85 years; today’s 80-year-old can expect to live to age 89 [2]. There are some pitfalls when distinguishing physiological and pathological changes of the lung among older persons; such drawbacks are the subject of this article. Since there is no uniform definition of age [3], persons older than 60 years of age will be arbitrarily defined here as the cohort of the “elderly”. Actually this lower threshold – which can vary individually – could be set at 70 or 80 years.