Why some people age slowly and others do not

Instead of focusing only on the causes of disease, experts have suggested paying attention to the forces that maintain health. This approach is called salutogenesis – from the Latin Salus, which means health. The new concept suggests that our body has special mechanisms capable of resisting destructive processes and prolonging active life.

Under the leadership of Prof. Sunil Ahuja from the University of Texas, major work has been done on immune resilience. This term refers to the immune system’s ability to restrain inflammatory processes and cellular destruction. Scientists believe that it is immune resilience that determines how long a person can stay healthy and avoid age-related diseases.

Since ancient times, inflammation has helped people fight infections and survive. However, if inflammation becomes chronic, it triggers mechanisms of aging and tissue destruction. Immune resilience can balance this process, preventing inflammation from getting out of control and damaging the body.

Researchers have identified a key element that influences immune resilience – the TCF7 factor. High levels of this protein in T cells are associated with better disease resistance, resistance to inflammation, and even better vaccine performance. In other words, TCF7 activity allows the body to remain in a state of defense longer.

After analyzing data from more than 17,000 people, experts have identified three types of immune system behavior under stress: those who retain high resilience, those who temporarily lose it but then recover, and those whose resilience gradually goes away, leading to deterioration. The higher the immune resilience, the longer a person is able to resist disease.

The difference between those with high immune resilience and those with weak immune resilience was impressive: the gap in life expectancy was as long as 15.5 years. However, this protection does not last forever – after about age 70, even the strongest immune system begins to lose its capabilities.

The good news is that it is possible to strengthen immune resilience for almost a lifetime. Until about age 70, our bodies are able to respond to efforts – be it proper nutrition, physical activity, or even promising therapies. After that age, interventions become less effective, but prevention until then can make a dramatic difference in quality of life.