Staying young might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

While most people experience a decline in immune function with age, new research has found that a fortunate few maintain a powerful defense thanks to rare immune cells that stay active well into their senior years.

But this “fountain of youth” effect comes at a cost. The same immune strength that helps ward off infections may also increase the risk of serious diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. 3

Mayo Clinic researchers discovered cells linked to what they call “immune youth” while analyzing data from more than 100 older patients being treated for giant cell arteritis .

This autoimmune disease causes inflammation and narrowing of arteries — especially those in the head and neck — restricting bl

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