A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that long-term endurance training not only benefits cardiovascular health and muscle strength but also significantly enhances immune function in older adults. The study found that older individuals with a long history of endurance exercise had more adaptable and metabolically efficient immune cells, specifically natural killer (NK) cells, compared to their sedentary peers.

NK cells are a type of white blood cell essential for early immune defense, responsible for eliminating infected and abnormal cells. The researchers studied nine participants with an average age of 64, divided into trained and untrained groups. Those with over 20 years of endurance training showed NK cells that were less inflammatory, more energy-efficient, and mor

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