Researchers affiliated with the University of Southern California have determined that vaccination against shingles has the potential to slow down biological aging. A study involving 3.8 thousand Americans over the age of 70 demonstrated that the inoculation impacts both inflammation and biological age.
Research conducted by USC scientists suggests that immunization against herpes zoster offers benefits beyond mere protection against the infection itself, potentially retarding the body’s biological aging process. Analysis of data gathered from over 3.8 thousand American seniors aged 70 and above revealed a tangible impact resulting from the vaccination. This finding was publicized on the official university website, as reported.
The experts utilized data sets originating from the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study, contrasting aging metrics between subjects who received the vaccine and those who did not undergo immunization. The findings indicated that vaccinated individuals exhibited a slower aging trajectory, even after accounting for variables such as chronological age, educational attainment, prevalence of underlying health conditions, and other confounding factors. The most pronounced divergences were observed in markers related to inflammatory levels, epigenetic and transcriptomic aging profiles, alongside other metrics that collectively constitute the “biological age” composite score.
The academics posit that biological aging is less a measure of time elapsed than an indicator of the overall operational status of various bodily systems, encompassing the immune, cardiovascular, and nervous networks. As years accumulate, there is a corresponding rise in the risk associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which is regarded as a primary contributor to age-related diseases. The research team theorizes that vaccination might aid in mitigating this inflammatory state by preventing the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
A noteworthy observation is that the observed deceleration in aging persisted even among individuals who had received the shot upwards of four years prior. While these current findings establish a statistically significant correlation rather than confirming a definitive anti-aging methodology, they contribute novel insights suggesting that vaccines may exert broader systemic effects on aging mechanisms than simply conferring defense against microbial threats.
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