Longevity & AgingCentenarians Defy Immune Aging Through Unique Inflammatory Control Mechanisms
Centenarians possess remarkably preserved immune systems that resist typical age-related decline through sophisticated inflammatory control mechanisms. Despite elevated inflammatory markers, they avoid inflammation-driven diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. Their immune cells maintain youthful characteristics, including higher ratios of helper to cytotoxic T cells, enhanced natural killer cell function, and preserved gut microbiome diversity. These findings suggest centenarians achieve longevity not by avoiding inflammation, but by developing adaptive responses that buffer its harmful effects while maintaining immune surveillance capabilities.
