Immunosenescence profiles of lymphocyte compartments and multiple long-term conditions (multimorbidity) in very old adults: The Newcastle 85+ Study

• Published in: Mechanisms of ageing and development 2022-12, Vol.208, p.111739-111739, Article 111739
• Main Authors: Granic, Antoneta, Martin-Ruiz, Carmen, Rimmer, Lucy, Dodds, Richard M., Robinson, Louise A., Spyridopoulos, Ioakim, Kirkwood, Thomas B.L., von Zglinicki, Thomas, Sayer, Avan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immune System; Immunosenescence; Lymphocyte compartments; Lymphocytes; Multimorbidity; Multiple long-term conditions; Very old adults
• ISSN: 0047-6374; 1872-6216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111739

Immunosenescence, a decline in immune system function, has been linked to several age-related diseases and ageing syndromes. Very old adults (aged ≥ 85 years) live with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC, also known as multimorbidity)—a complex phenomenon of poor health defined by either counts, indices, or patterns, but little is known about the relationship between an ageing immune system and MLTC in this age group. We utilised baseline data from the Newcastle 85+ Study to investigate the associations between previously defined immunosenescence profiles of lymphocyte compartments and MLTC counts and patterns (from 16 chronic diseases/ageing syndromes). Seven hundred and three participants had MLTC and complete data for all 16 conditions, a median and mean of 5 (range 2–11) and 62.2% had ≥ 5 conditions. Three distinct MLTC patterns emerged by clustering: Cluster 1 (‘Low frequency cardiometabolic-cerebrovascular diseases’, n = 209), Cluster 2 (‘High ageing syndromes-arthritis’, n = 240), and Cluster 3 (‘Hypertensive-renal impairment’, n = 254). Although having a more senescent phenotype, characterised by higher frequency of CD4 and CD8 senescence-like effector memory cells and lower CD4/CD8 ratio, was not associated with MLTC compared with less senescent phenotype, the results warrant further investigation, including whether immunosenescence drives change in MLTC and influences MLTC severity in late adulthood. •Having ≥ 5 multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) was common in very old adults.•MLTC were defined by counts and clusters of 16 conditions.•Immunosenescence profiles were defined by clustering of 13 senescence biomarkers.•‘Senescence phenotype’ had T-cell senescence and elements of immune risk profile.•The role of immunosenescence in lymphocytes in MLTC warrants further investigation.