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While most cystic fibrosis cases are diagnosed in early childhood, research shows that between 12% and 18% of people are not diagnosed until adulthood. This late-stage discovery raises a crucial question: **can cystic fibrosis be detected later in life?**
With medical advancements having significantly increased life expectancy, many have wondered who is the oldest person alive with cystic fibrosis. Once considered a childhood disease with a grim prognosis, the median predicted survival age for people with CF has risen dramatically, allowing many to live well into adulthood.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder, not something you acquire in later life, so it is impossible to 'get' cystic fibrosis at 60. However, people with milder, atypical forms of the disease may receive their diagnosis much later, sometimes in their 60s or even older, after years of misdiagnosis.
A 2019 case study detailed the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) in a 70-year-old patient, definitively showing that CF can be identified in older age, though it is not acquired later in life. This sheds light on the often-misunderstood question, "can you get cystic fibrosis in your 70's?" and emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis across the lifespan.
