 were in that age group. Dr. Stephen Rich, director of the New England Regional Center of Vector-Borne Diseases, says people in that age category have weaker immune systems and may get exposed to ticks due to being active in tick-prone areas. I know it's alarming to look at it that way, but we've known for a long time that people in that age category are disproportionately at risk of both tick bites, seemingly, but also of exposure to the various pathogens.