Aging immunity and the impact of physical exercise

Guillaume Spielmann, Austin B. Bigley, Emily C. Lavoy, Richard J. Simpson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Regular physical exercise is associated with increased longevity and a lower risk of developing several age-associated diseases. In addition, regular exercise has been purported as a simple lifestyle intervention to counteract the deleterious effects of age-associated changes in immunity known as immunosenescence. Etiology of immunosenescence is multifaceted and can impact on both arms of the immune system. Since 1990, several longitudinal ageing studies using aerobic- and/or resistance-based exercise provided growing information on the benefits of exercise in both innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Regular exercise can improve responses to vaccines, NK-cell function, neutrophil phagocytic activity, and T-cell proliferation. It also reduces circulatory inflammatory mediators and inflammatory response to bacterial challenge. These findings provide a strong indication that habitual exercise has immune regulatory properties and may help delay the onset of immunosenescence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationImmunology of Aging
PublisherSpringer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Pages369-397
Number of pages29
ISBN (Electronic)9783642394959
ISBN (Print)3642394949, 9783642394942
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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