How does age affect the function of T cells?
By age 65, the annual influenza vaccine's effectiveness can drop from 70–90% to as low as 30–40% in younger adults, underscoring a significant decline in immune function. This phenomenon illustrates how age affects the function of T cells, key players in our adaptive immune system, leading to a diminished response to new pathogens and vaccinations. This age-related decline, known as immunosenescence, affects multiple cellular and metabolic processes, fundamentally altering how T cells operate.