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18 - What Happens to the Immune System as We Age?

from Part II - Caring For Your Body

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2023

Marcy Cottrell Houle  and
Elizabeth Eckstrom
By
Elizabeth Eckstrom
Elizabeth Eckstrom
Affiliation:
Oregon Health and Science University
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Summary

Our immune system is our greatest ally when it comes to protecting us from harm. It is designed to fight off infections, heal our wounds, and protect us from malignancy and autoimmune disease. Like all the other systems of our body, this system changes progressively through our lives. Unfortunately, its performance and skills of detection wane as we grow older. This makes us more vulnerable to infections. Some of these effects are inevitable. Others are not. There are things we can do to protect our immune system and mitigate some of the normal forces of aging. This becomes especially important when we reach 70 and older. Chapter outlines seven actions we can do to strengthen our immune system: Mediterranean Diet. Exercise. Keep up to date on vaccinations. Practice good hygiene. Sleep. Lower stress. Practice optimism.

Keywords

Immune systemVaccinesT cellsB cellsCytokinesAutoimmune diseaseCytokine stormsImmunosenescenceHematopoietic stem cellsTelomeresFlu shotsInflammatory cytokine responseChapter outlines strategies to help strengthen the immune systemTdapShingrix vaccinePneumococcal polysaccharide.
Type
Chapter
Information
The Gift of Aging
Growing Older with Purpose, Planning and Positivity
 , pp. 117 - 122
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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