Immunosenescence: the reason older adults are more vulnerable to viruses, and how to prevent it – Part 1

 
Amid all the confusion surrounding Covid-19, what everybody does seem to understand, without a doubt, is that older people are most vulnerable. It’s a scary world once you hit 60. Novel viruses can breakout at any moment and you are, by default, part of the high risk demographic. And worse, from the constant dialogue presented by the media and health authorities, we are led to believe that this increased vulnerability is inevitable. But is this true?

In this article I will present a different and more empowering perspective that, unfortunately, isn’t often emphasized by the many leaders and experts that are appearing in the media these days. From politicians to physicians, virologists to infectious disease specialists, one of the key elements that defines our current crisis seems too taboo for any of them to even mention. In fact, it could even land them in trouble- especially in the court of public opinion. Well, here it is anyway: Your vulnerability is far from being inevitable and, when it comes to the immune system, scientists have indeed discovered the fountain of youth.

The term immunosenescence refers to the gradual deterioration of the immune system that occurs with age and weakens your ability to fight infections. These changes may also be the primary reason why older people are more prone to developing cancer.¹ Thus, understanding how to halt and reverse the decline of an aging immune system can prove not only effective for preventing infectious disease outbreaks, such as Covid-19, but also for greatly reducing the incidence of age-related cancers. But is it possible to prevent and reverse immunosenescence? The short answer is yes! Decades of scientific research has provided clear evidence that we can hold back the hands of time.

Behind your sternum and between your lungs lies your very important thymus gland. This thumb sized and irregular shaped organ is essential for controlling and coordinating your immune system. Your thymus is where T-cells mature and, when a virus attacks, these T-cells are deployed to find and kill infected cells. In fact, what makes the HIV virus so dangerous is that it infects and reduces T-cells, thus putting the patient at risk from opportunistic infections and cancers that a stronger immune system would otherwise be able to destroy. Simply put, T-cells are the soldiers of your immune system that defend you against enemy invaders. If their numbers are reduced, or they become exhausted, you become more vulnerable. A problem with aging is that by the time you reach 65 your thymus gland has atrophied and is no longer able to produce new T-cells, and by your 75th birthday this once important organ is reduced to little more than fatty tissue. There are no more troops coming to rescue you.

The question we must ask is how to prevent this seemingly cruel feature of aging in order to maintain a strong immune system. The first answer is exercise, and the scientific evidence is very encouraging. One study looked at 125 older long-distance cyclists and determined that even those in their 8th decade of life were producing the same amount of T-cells as adults in their 20s.² The researchers concluded that it is not aging alone but physical inactivity associated with aging that profoundly accelerates immunosenescence, and increases the risk of infections in older adults. It is encouraging to learn that even people as old as 80 can have a similarly robust immune system as their grandchildren- just as long as they maintain an active lifestyle. And it is never too late to begin to exercise. It’s been shown that even post-menopausal women, aged 65-85, can significantly improve their immunity and become less vulnerable to viruses with just 10 weeks of resistance training.³ 

In addition to having our thymus shrink and our healthy T-cells decrease, another feature of aging is the increase of dysfunctional or “senescent” T-cells that roam the body driving up chronic inflammation- known as "inflamm-aging”- and raising the incidence and severity of infections. Research has shown that regular exercise prevents the accumulation of these harmful cells, and in turn may reduce morbidity and mortality from infectious disease and cancer .^4,5 Once again, it doesn’t take long to see the positive effects of exercise. Just 6 weeks of strength training can reduce the amount of dysfunctional T-cells in older women who are suffering from a chronic viral infection.⁶ This serves as another reminder that, while it is ideal to exercise throughout our lifetime, it is also never too late to start. Your immune system CAN improve regardless of your age or pre-existing condition.