**8. Conclusions**

Adverse food reactions show peculiar characteristics in the elderly that concern both the pathogenesis and the clinic. FAs in the elderly are driven by immunosenescence, as well as the cell aging and tissue modifications that characterize advanced age. The aged gastrointestinal mucosa is central in the development of FAs in the elderly through its compromised digestive properties and structural changes, as well as the alteration of its immune functions linked to immunosenescence and age-related microbiota remodeling. Among the risk factors for the sensitization to food allergens in the elderly, in addition to chronic damage and inflammation of gut epithelia due to the aging process, there are chronic alcohol consumption, chronic infections, multimorbility, polymedication, and drug side effects (Figure 1).

**Figure 1.** Food allergies in the elderly. The figure shows the main risk factors for the development of a food allergy in the elderly. Immunosenescence and the mucosal immune dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract are driving forces in the development of food allergies in the elderly. The gut barrier function decline and the compromised digestive properties, as well as the age-related microbiota remodeling, are also central factors for both allergen penetration and sensitization.

**Author Contributions:** All authors contributed equally to the work.

**Funding:** The study has not received any funding.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
