White blood cells could come alive again to improve elderly care

A new scientific discovery has been made, which could lead one day to improvements in elderly care. Scientists in London have found out how to revitalise white blood cells that were thought to have become inert after fighting infections. The research team at University College London (UCL) now hope that medicines could be invented to do the same in order to help the elderly strengthen their immunity against illnesses. Scientists previously thought that white blood cells had a finite lifespan – one that was too short to help them be effective in old age. However, the team at UCL studied blood sample that showed some white blood cells could be made active again by blocking off a certain pathway in the immune system. Professor Arne Akbar of UCL said: “This research opens up the exciting possibility of giving older people’s immune systems a temporary boost to help them fight off infections, but this is not a fountain of eternal youth. “It is perfectly normal for our immune systems to become less effective and there are good evolutionary reasons for this. “We’re a long way from having enough understanding of ageing to consider permanently rejuvenating white blood cells, if it is even possible.”

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