An international team of researchers reports that the immune cells of older adults with a history of endurance training are more effective at combating inflammation.
Regular physical activity not only benefits the muscles, lungs, and heart, but also enhances the body’s immune defenses. This conclusion comes from a study involving older adults with long-term experience in endurance exercise, which includes activities such as long-distance running, cycling, swimming, rowing, and walking.
An international group of scientists examined the immune cells of these participants and discovered that their “natural killer” cells, the body’s sentinels against viruses and abnormal cells, were more adaptable, showed lower levels of inflammation, and functioned with greater metabolic efficiency.
The study focused on natural killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte) responsible for identifying and destroying infected or diseased cells, including cancer cells. These cells play a vital role in immune defense by recognizing and attacking harmful invaders such as viruses and other pathogens. The team examined blood samples from nine participants with an average age of 64, separated into two groups: those who were physically untrained and those who had practiced endurance exercise۔
