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German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach: Studies now show very clearly that people who have had several COVID infections often have to deal with an incurable immune deficiency. (www.n-tv.de)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What does “aged” mean in the context of immune system? Does an immune system have an age that is independent of the age of the rest of the body? That would be the first time I’ve heard about this.

That is indeed a thing, although I agree that "age" is maybe not the best term for it. This only somewhat related article explains well that is meant by that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Thanks for the link.

I guess I don't understand if there is a difference between "aged immune system" and "weak immune system". Aged, as I would define it, can't be reversed. Otherwise it would just be temporally weak and can improve to the typical state of immunity of similar aged peers.

More research is needed to confirm whether stress reduction or lifestyle changes will lead to improvements in immune aging

I guess they don't really know that as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Indeed it is implied that these changes are irreversible and at best can be slowed down. But there is still a lot of open research in this area AFAIK.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I agree that aging implies this, but apparently they don't know. That's why I wonder why they're calling it like that.

Just anecdotal, but... I have generalized anxiety, and sometimes I have high stress, while some times low stress. I do know that my immune system responds to that. Which is also what they're talking about in this article.

I just fail to see any reason to call it "aging", when it implies something they don't know.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

As far as I can tell the current science sees two overlapping effects there, one temporary weakening effect that can be reversed and one they describe as accelerated aging or sanding-down of the immune system that is pretty much irreversible without something like a bone marrow transplant or such.