Aging of Immune System Cells Linked to Cancer

Lifestyle, environmental and hereditary factors play important roles in cancer development. Nevertheless, cancer is mostly a disease of aging. With advancing age, the capacity of DNA repair systems declines, allowing mutations to accumulate. Cells then lose control over division and proliferate continuously, forming malignant tumors. Identifying cancer causes is fundamental to research. In February 2018, PNAS published a study suggesting that immune cell aging may be an important cause of cancer development.

The research analyzed people aged 18-70, totaling 2 million , using mathematical equations to examine aging’s effects on cancer rates.

According to the Study Results:

• Slowing of the immune system was found more important in cancer development than genetic mutations.
• Aging of the immune system was observed to proceed more slowly in women. This appears to be one of the reasons why cancer incidence is higher in men than in women.
• T cells are the main immune cells and are produced in the thymus. In men, the thymus was observed to shrink faster with age, reducing immune capacity and preventing damaged cells from being destroyed.

What Does This Study Tell Us?

• The immune system was discovered to be an important factor in age-related cancer development.
• Most research so far has focused on understanding genetic mutations and developing drugs against them. This discovery will increase research into controlled immune activation (immunotherapies).
• The immune system’s importance in cancer has again become clear. Most new-generation cancer treatments are being developed on immune and genetic foundations.
• Keeping the thymus active in a controlled manner may play an important role in controlling cancer.

Almost everyone reading this study will first wonder "how can I keep my immune system young and strengthen it" ?

Boosting the immune system is an appealing idea and the most widespread commercial claim in healthcare. However, it is difficult for several reasons. Immunity is not a single entity but a system, consisting of dozens of cell types totaling trillions. It requires balance and harmony. Research continues, but much remains unknown. Lifestyle and positive or negative habits affect people differently, although healthy living is thought to support immunity.

In conclusion, there is no prescription, natural product, vitamin, mineral or supplement that rejuvenates or strengthens the immune system! Ways to support it include an active life (exercise), maintaining an ideal weight, a healthy fruit- and vegetable-rich diet (such as the Mediterranean diet), intermittent fasting, vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases and avoiding harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol.