Longevity Predicted by High Naive White Cell Counts

Naive white blood cell counts have been proposed as a means to predict longevity and even lead to a way for everyone to live longer.

B-cells are vital components of the immune system, producing antibodies to combat foreign invaders, such as bacteria. Unlike mature B-cells, which are primed to attack foes the body has seen before, naive B-cells are ready and waiting to attack microbes not previously encountered. Therefore, the more naive B-cells present the longer someone is likely to be able to keep fighting off new infections, which might prolong life.

Sonya Vasto Ph.D. and her colleagues at the University of Palermo (Italy) took samples of white blood cells from 45 men and women aged between 75 and 90, who all had parents born between 1900 and 1908. They compared the numbers of naïve blood calls from those who had one parent who had reached 100 with those whose parents had died before reaching the average life expectancy for Italians (67 for men and 72 for women).

The two groups differed in the number of naive B-cells, a type of white blood cell that their blood contained. Our main finding was the increase in naive B-cells in individuals who had centenarian parents, said Dr. Vasto, who presented the results at a conference on aging organized by the Methuselah Foundation (Lorton, VA, USA). The conference took place in Los Angeles (CA, USA) from June 27-29, 2008.

Dr. Vasco said, "If people discover they have fewer naive B-cells, they might take extra steps to forestall infections.”


Related Links:
University of Palermo
Methuselah Foundation