Impact of Aging on the Immune System and Cancer Risk

Aging significantly influences the immune system's efficiency, which is linked to an increased cancer risk among older individuals. The immune cells responsible for combating cancer often become dysfunctional with age, leading to poorer outcomes for older cancer patients. This decline is primarily attributed to specific immune cell types known as myeloid cells, which, when overproduced, inhibit the activity of tumor-fighting cells like T cells and natural killer cells. By identifying these mechanisms, researchers hope to develop strategies that can mitigate this aging effect and improve cancer prevention and treatment.