Women’s immune systems age more slowly than men’s, according to scientists, which may explain why women live longer. The study analysed the blood of healthy volunteers in Japan, between the ages of 20 and 90.
In both sexes white blood cells decreased with age. But for several classes of immune cells, including T-cells and B-cells, the decline was more rapid in men. Red blood cells were also seen to decrease in men, but not in women.
Professor Katsuiku Hirokawa from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, said: “Because people age at different rates a person’s immunological parameters could be used