Effectiveness Of The Immunological Theory Of Aging

The immunological theory of aging, or immunosenescence, advances the idea that the immune system is programmed to decline over time. This programmed deterioration in immune system results in an increased vulnerability to infection disease, and thus leads to aging and death. The gradual deterioration of the immune system leads to loss of antibody efficacy, and with the body’s defense mechanisms against new diseases compromised, the body becomes more susceptible to cellular stress and eventual death (Cornelius 1972). The immunological theory of aging was proposed by leading pathologist, Roy Walford in 1964 (Walford 1964), based on the observation that the effectiveness of the immune system peaks at puberty and gradually lessens with age. This