Which statement about aging and immunity is most accurate according to the theory?

Which statement about aging and immunity is most accurate according to the theory?

• A. An active lifestyle supports immune function in the older person.
• B. Immune responses increase with aging.
• C. Immune function remains unchanged with age.
• D. Vaccinations have no effect on immune function.

Answer: (A)

Staying physically active helps maintain immune function in older adults, even as aging brings changes to the immune system. As people age, immune defenses naturally weaken a bit—less robust antibody responses, fewer naive T cells, and a tendency toward chronic, low-grade inflammation. Regular moderate exercise counters some of these shifts by improving the circulation of immune cells, reducing inflammatory mediators, and supporting better sleep and stress management. This combination helps the body respond to infections more effectively and can enhance responses to vaccines over time, leading to fewer infections and complications. In contrast, aging does not cause immune responses to increase, immune function is not unchanged with age, and vaccines do affect immune function by stimulating it and providing protection, even if the response is somewhat blunted in older adults.

Staying physically active helps maintain immune function in older adults, even as aging brings changes to the immune system. As people age, immune defenses naturally weaken a bit—less robust antibody responses, fewer naive T cells, and a tendency toward chronic, low-grade inflammation. Regular moderate exercise counters some of these shifts by improving the circulation of immune cells, reducing inflammatory mediators, and supporting better sleep and stress management. This combination helps the body respond to infections more effectively and can enhance responses to vaccines over time, leading to fewer infections and complications. In contrast, aging does not cause immune responses to increase, immune function is not unchanged with age, and vaccines do affect immune function by stimulating it and providing protection, even if the response is somewhat blunted in older adults.