Immune Resilience Key to Healthy Aging

A study in Aging Cell links immune resilience to salutogenesis—the active promotion of health and well-being.

The researchers’ study on 17,500 individuals underscored the crucial role of immune resilience in the process of aging and longevity. Focusing on the TCF7 gene, the study shows its key role in immune cell regeneration, vital for long-term immune health. This resilience supports healthy aging and may enhance longevity by helping the immune system adapt and fight disease over time.

Immune Resilience as a Shield: Slowing Aging and Reducing Mortality Risk

The study shows that immune resilience helps counteract chronic inflammation, immune system deterioration, and cell death, which are major contributors to aging and mortality. This protective function slows biological aging and offers survival benefits. At age 40, individuals with low immune resilience face nearly 10 times the mortality risk of those with high immune resilience, roughly equivalent to the risk of a 55.5-year-old. This creates a 15.5-year survival gap.

Preserving strong immune resilience helps maintain youthful immune function at any age, improves vaccine efficacy, and dramatically lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and severe infections.

The Midlife Advantage: Strengthening Immune Resilience to Maximize Longevity

Midlife (ages 40-70) is key for extending lifespan, with immune resilience linked to a 69% reduction in mortality. After age 70, mortality rates between those with strong and weak immune resilience converge, suggesting biological limits on lifespan extension. These results emphasize the importance of strengthening immune resilience during early midlife to optimize healthspan.

Immune Resilience as a Key to Healthy Aging: Study Highlights Role of TCF7 in Sustaining Immune Function

“While aging research often centers on disease, our study highlights immune resilience as a driver of salutogenesis—actively promoting health,” said senior author Dr. Sunil K. Analyzing data from 17,500 individuals, researchers found that genes like TCF7, CCR7, and LEF1 play a vital role in sustaining immune regeneration. Individuals with stronger T-cell activity linked to TCF7 showed greater long-term immune function.

These findings suggest that immune resilience—driven by genes like TCF7, CCR7, and LEF1—not only protects against illness but also supports healthy aging and longevity by aiding healing, immune regeneration, and systemic balance.. Individuals with higher immune resilience exhibited stronger T-cell responses, better recovery from stressors, and more robust defense against age-related decline. This research underscores the importance of cultivating immune resilience as a proactive strategy for enhancing overall well-being and life span.

This approach shifts focus from fighting disease to boosting the body’s natural ability to sustain health and longevity. Ahuja of UT Health San Antonio and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. “This paves the way for new approaches to support lifelong well-being.”

Read the original article on: MedicalPress

Read more:https://scitke.com/researchers-uncover-genetic-changes-associated-with-autism-and-schizophrenia/