A MODERN VIEW ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF MYASTHENIA IN THE ELDERLY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
myasthenia gravis; late-onset; elderly; immunosenescence; thymus; statinsAbstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder whose incidence has increased substantially among elderly individuals over the past two decades. Since 2020, accumulating evidence indicates that late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG) and very-late-onset MG represent distinct clinical and immunological entities rather than delayed forms of early-onset disease. Aging-related immune dysregulation, residual thymic activity, diverse autoantibody profiles, and drug-related triggers—particularly statins—contribute to disease onset and progression in older adults. This review summarizes contemporary evidence (2020–2025) on epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, thymic involvement, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic considerations of MG in the elderly.
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