In individuals with normal immune function, cytomegalovirus infection goes unnoticed and produces no immediately evident ill effects. It is very prevalent in the human population. By the time old age is reached, something like 90% of individuals test positive for persistent cytomegalovirus presence. Like other herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus cannot be cleared by the immune system and lurks in the body for the remainder of life. Unfortunately, it appears that the presence of cytomegalovirus does cause harm over time in older individuals, provoking the aged immune system into an ever greater focus on this one virus at the expense of retaining capacity to address other th…
Cytomegalovirus Specific T Cell Populations are Associated with Adverse Outcomes in Aging
In individuals with normal immune function, cytomegalovirus infection goes unnoticed and produces no immediately evident ill effects. It is very prevalent in the human population. By the time old age is reached, something like 90% of individuals test positive for persistent cytomegalovirus presence. Like other herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus cannot be cleared by the immune system and lurks in the body for the remainder of life. Unfortunately, it appears that the presence of cytomegalovirus does cause harm over time in older individuals, provoking the aged immune system into an ever greater focus on this one virus at the expense of retaining capacity to address other th…