Researchers find that centenarians have a unique immune system that allows them to live exceptionally long.
The immune system plays a crucial role in maintaining our health. There are 30 trillion cells within the human body. The decline of our immune systems is one of the most important characteristics of aging. Centenarians are a small group of people who live to 100 or more years old. They experience delays in age-related illnesses and mortality, which indicates that their immune system remains functional well into old age.
Researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Tufts University Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine led a study that found centenarians have a distinct immune cell composition and activity. They also possess highly functioning immune systems which have successfully adapted to a long history of illness allowing them exceptional longevity. These immune cells could help to identify important mechanisms for recovering from disease and promoting longevity.
Our data support the hypothesis centenarians possess protective factors which enable them to recover from diseases and reach extreme ages, said Tanya Karagiannis Ph.D. lead author, senior bioinformatician at Tufts Medical Center’s Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-centenarians-unique-immunity-exceptional-longevity.html
