People Who Live Past 100 Have a Surprising Abundance of Cancer-Killing Immune Cells
Add killer T cells to your birthday wishlist.
Researchers have discovered that people who live past 100 years old possess unusually high levels of specialized immune cells that may help protect them against cancer and disease. A new study examining blood samples found that these cytotoxic CD4 T cells, which are typically rare in younger individuals, become significantly more abundant with extreme age. Scientists believe this cellular expansion could explain why some people successfully navigate the increased health risks associated with advanced aging.
The investigation, which analyzed samples from Japanese participants across different age groups, revealed striking differences in immune cell populations. While adults in their 70s, 80s, and 90s had a median of 4 percent of these killer T cells, centenarians showed 9.6 percent, and supercentenarians—those over 110—had 17.6 percent. These cells appeared active and functioning properly, with many being clones of single original cells that had multiplied in response to immune threats.
According to researchers, the transformation occurs when helper T cells lose specific surface proteins, converting into these rare killer variants. As the body ages, abnormal and cancerous cells become more common, and these expanded immune cells may help eliminate such threats before they cause serious harm. While the study included a relatively small sample size limited to one country, the findings suggest that successful immune adaptation during aging could be a key factor in exceptional longevity.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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