The study used models of aging to trace how this self-reinforcing loop operates and then tested what happens when the signal is blocked. Reducing that feed-forward cue calmed inflammation and improved survival after severe infection, suggesting the immune system of older adults may be more reversible than we assumed. This gives scientists a concrete target to explore for therapies that tone down runaway immune responses without wiping out protective defenses.
Understanding which immune pathways become maladaptive with age matters for more than treating a single disease. Interventions that restore balance could help older people withstand infections, recover faster, and maintain daily function. Follow the full article to see how these findings might reshape approaches to aging, resilience, and inclusive care that meets the needs of an older population.
Aging immune cells may be sabotaging the body from within. Researchers found that macrophages produce a protein that locks them into a chronic inflammatory state, making infections like sepsis more deadly in older adults. Turning off this signal reduced inflammation and improved survival in older models. The findings hint at future treatments that could dial back harmful immune overreactions.
