Scientists from Boston University have discovered that centenarians have a unique immunity that helps them achieve extraordinary longevity. Research published eBiomedicine.
Centenarians are known to develop age-related diseases later on, and their immune systems are likely to remain functional until old age.
The researchers sequenced single cells of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a group of immune cells circulating in the blood, taken from seven centenarians over the age of 100.
Their analysis confirmed observations made in previous studies of aging. They also identified new properties of the cells.
The scientists explained that as people suffer from infections and recover, their immune systems learn to adapt, but this responsiveness declines with age. Overall, the data support the hypothesis that centenarians have protective factors that allow their immune systems to better adapt to their environment, even in old age.