Finding a virus can help strengthen the immune system for the elderly

Researchers have found a virus that could be beneficial for elderly based research on mice.

In a study of the immune system of the elderly, researchers at the University of Arizona found that the cytomegalo virus (CMV) , which is linked to the herpes virus, can boost the immune system. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As people get older, the immune system weakens and the body struggles to fight new infections.

Dr. Megan Smithey of Arizona's Center for Aging Research said: 'Our research shows that the immune system in the elderly is more likely to work than we think. This indicates the ability to create a good immune response that exists when aging and CMV or the body's response to CMV can help exploit that ability. "

The virus Cytomegalo becomes especially popular in the elderly.

Cytomegalo is a virus that we often get when we are young but it does not disappear but stays in the body. This virus becomes especially popular among older people. Symptoms of viral infection include fever, chills, sweating, loss of appetite, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat and headache.

"CMV usually does not cause obvious symptoms, but we still have to live with it every day because there is no cure , " Smithey said. "Our immune system will always be busy dealing with this virus."

"We think it will make mice more susceptible to infection because they are using up their resources and keeping the immune system busy," Smithey said .

But when infected with several types of bacteria, older mice with CMV were more durable than mice that were not infected with the virus.

Both groups have a good supply of diverse T cells, which help fight infections.

"Diversity is good," said Dr. Janko Nikolich-Zugich of the Aging Center. "The different types of T cells respond to different types of infections, the more diverse T cells you have, the more likely you are to fight infections."

According to the researchers, although T cells are almost diverse at all ages of mice, they are not used unless they are infected with CMV, as if CMV is emitting a signal for the body to receive. Best protection

Researchers hope to study this virus in humans and eventually create a vaccine that can protect older people from infection.