Immunosenescence: what it is, causes and what to do for the elderly
What is the relationship between immunity and ageing? And why do we become more susceptible to infections, chronic diseases and cancer as we age? The answer lies in our immune system, which loses some of its ‘responsiveness’ as we age and goes through a phase known as immunosenescence.
Immunosenescence is the set of changes that the organs and cells involved in protecting our bodies undergo over time and is the cause of the progressive decline in our immune defences. This is a phenomenon that will affect more people as the world’s population ages, requiring innovative research solutions to meet the needs of the population.
Deterioration of the immune system
As we know, the decline of the immune response is a natural and inevitable phenomenon when we reach a certain age. But what causes the immune system to weaken in old age? After the age of 70, people become more susceptible to many diseases associated with ageing, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but also metabolic diseases such as diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
This is because, at a microscopic level, the cells in our body lose their ability to reproduce, develop and replace those that have reached the end of their life cycle. This mechanism obviously also affects the elements that make up the immune system, in which case we speak of senescent immune cells, which are responsible for the inadequate response to external threats.
More specifically, immunosenescence affects both innate immunities, the immune defences we have from birth, and the adaptive response, all those cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and antibodies that are produced throughout our lives. There is another element that contributes to this decline: telomerase. This is an enzyme involved in protecting the ends of chromosomes and plays a key role in maintaining chromosome stability by protecting chromosome ends from degradation. In the elderly, telomerase activity tends to decrease, contributing to senescence and cell death. In addition to the pathologies already mentioned, these cellular changes increase susceptibility to infection and mortality and reduce the effectiveness of the immune response to vaccines.
We have seen that ageing is a major risk factor for cognitive decline and the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Recent studies suggest that immunosenescence contributes to their pathogenesis through changes in the blood-brain barrier, the glymphatic system and the functionality of immune cells such as microglia and natural killer cells. A better understanding of the mechanisms of cellular ageing could therefore lead to new targeted treatments, called ‘geroprotectors’, capable of slowing biological ageing and potentially preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
What ageing of the immune system means
We have explored the importance of immunosenescence and its causes, but what are the consequences of ageing?
- Reduced response to vaccines: in the elderly, the immune response following vaccination may be less robust, as in immunosuppressed individuals, sometimes requiring additional booster doses to achieve adequate protection.
- Reduced immune efficacy: making people more susceptible to infection and increasing the risk of developing severe forms of disease.
- Chronic inflammation: a persistent condition that can promote the onset of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia.
- Changes in the composition of immune cells: for example, a decrease in naive (unspecialised) T lymphocytes and an increase in memory (specialised) T lymphocytes, which limits the immune system’s ability to recognise new infections.
However, there are several solutions to boosting the immune system in older people, so let’s look at them together.
How to boost the immune system in older people?
To boost the immune system in older people, it is important to take a holistic approach that includes a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular physical activity. These are the factors that most influence the health of our bodies. The Mediterranean diet, which includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fish and white meat, is the best option because it provides valuable antioxidants and reduces saturated fats, which improves the immune response. Vitamin D3, which can be obtained through sun exposure or supplements, also supports the immune system and helps reduce inflammation.
However, when good habits are not enough, immune supplements such as Special Immuno play an important role in supporting the body’s response. The product from Cor.Con. International’s Special Immuno product has the perfect formulation to boost the body’s defences: the balanced combination of bovine colostrum, known for its immune-stimulating properties, and vitamin C protects cells from oxidative stress and the damage it causes. This supports the immune system, keeping the body in balance and always ready to respond to external stimuli.