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What is the Lifetime progression of the immune system?
When we are babies we are born with the immunity that our mothers give us for the first 3-6 months, however our own immune system has not kicked in yet, so we tell new mothers to keep babies at home and to avoid crowds before 3 months of age so they don’t get every virus and bacteria out there. After 3-6 months the immune system of a baby cranks up, and the Thymus gland, the source of T killer cells, T helper cells, and antibodies= our immune system becomes very active. The thymus gland sits behind the breastbone (sternum) and is very large in babies compared to the size of the chest. The thymus’s job is to help a child live through exposure to all the viruses and bacteria in their environment. Growth hormone is the hormone that supports the health of the thymus gland in childhood.
After childhood the thymus gland shrinks slowly, but progressively until age 40 when it loses its powerful ability to recognize and kill invaders. The hormone that supports the Thymus in adulthood, is primarily testosterone as well as Growth Hormone to a lesser degree. Both start a downward path, and the thymus shrinks and becomes less protective. If we don’t replace testosterone, our immune system tanks following the drop of testosterone. The incidence of all diseases that depend on the protection of the immune system, start to increase as testosterone drops with age.
If the immune system is stimulated by Testosterone to be more active, then why does do we need Testosterone to treat autoimmune disease age 40?
The immune system is held in balance by GH/and activity of the thymus gland in childhood and by testosterone in adulthood. Testosterone is both an immune stimulator and an immune modulator….Testosterone stimulates the production of immune cells and antibodies if they are low, but it also keeps and overactive misguided immune system from attacking the body itself. Loss of T destabilizes the immune system and genetic mutations in cells can’t be stopped, or re-targeted by the immune cells, without testosterone.
One of my most interesting reads is a book called Lies Your Doctor Told You. I don’t agree with all of what the author writes, however his read on cancer and autoimmune disease is correct: An unhealthy immune system is the real cause of cancer and autoimmune disease. His other statement that I agree with is that Testosterone is necessary as we age to protect our immune system from failing and that I agree with. Over the next decades mainstream medicine will slowly be more aware of these facts and doctors will be trained to treat testosterone deficiency to prevent future disease.
This Health cast was written and presented by Dr. Kathy Maupin, M.D., Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Expert and Author. www.BioBalanceHealth.com • (314) 993-0963. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and please check “ Like “. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at BioBalanceHealth.
