Exercise boosts immunity in aged
Exercising regularly may not only help older men to keep in good shape, it may also boost their immune system.
Exercising regularly may not only help older men to keep in good shape, it may also boost their immune system. Physically active seniors who were injected with a protein to provoke an immune system reaction mounted an immune response similar to that seen in men half their age.
Researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder, found that maintaining a physically active lifestyle may prevent or slow down age-associated decline in immune function. Not only are physically active older men likely to fight infections, but they are also better able to respond to influenza vaccinations.
The normal aging process involves a gradual decline in the immune system's ability to respond to foreign substances. This puts older individuals at risk of infectious disease and also prevents them from effectively responding to various vaccinations. Researchers reported that regular walking, cycling or other moderate exercise training may help compensate for some of the immune system changes observed in older people.
To further investigate, researchers injected 46 active and sedentary men between 20 and 35 years or 60 and 79 years with KLH, a protein derivative of sea mollusks, to provoke an immune system response.
The study participants had engaged in running, cycling or some type of aerobic activity three or more times each week and had done so for more than two years, while their sedentary peers said they had engaged in no regular exercise during a similar time period.
After immunizing the study participants against KLH, the researchers injected them with the same protein again three weeks later. As expected, the older men -- active and sedentary had a weaker immune system response than did their younger counterparts.
However, the physically active seniors had a stronger immune system response as compared to their sedentary peers. In fact, their immune response was similar to that observed among the younger men. The researchers were amazed that the older men were able to maintain an effective immune response in the face of aging.
Journal of Applied Physiology,
August 2004
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