A leading longevity scientist says strengthening the immune system — not the brain — may be the most effective way to extend health span, the years people remain active and disease-free, as research into aging accelerates.
NOVATO, Calif. — A leading longevity scientist says strengthening the immune system — not the brain — may be the most effective way to extend health span, the years people remain active and disease-free, as research into aging accelerates.
Dr. Eric Verdin, president and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, has spent his career examining why people age and how to delay the onset of chronic disease. The independent nonprofit is dedicated to studying the biology of aging and age-related illness.
Verdin says the field has moved away from the word “aging,” which many view negatively, toward the term “longevity.” But he stresses that the goal is not simply living longer.
“It’s not about adding years at any cost,” Verdin said in an interview. “It’s about extending health span — the period of life when people are active, independent, and free of serious disease.”
Verdin Shifts Focus From Lifespan To Health Span
Scientists once focused primarily on lifespan, measuring success by how many years a person lived. Verdin said that the approach misses a crucial point: More years do not automatically mean better years.
Instead, researchers increasingly measure how long people maintain mobility, cognitive function, and resistance to illness. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer often cluster in later decades of life, sharply reducing quality of life.
“If we can delay the onset of those diseases by even a few years, the impact on individuals and health systems would be enormous,” Verdin said.
Public health experts agree that preventing or postponing multiple age-related conditions could ease pressure on hospitals and caregivers as populations grow older.
Immune System Emerges As Central Driver Of Aging
While many assume the brain drives the aging process, Verdin points to the immune system as a central regulator of how the body ages.
The immune system protects against infection and helps repair damaged tissue. Over time, however, it can become dysregulated, leading to chronic, low-grade inflammation that contributes to disease.
“The immune system touches almost every organ,” Verdin said. “When it functions well, it keeps us healthy. When it declines or becomes overactive, it accelerates many aspects of aging.”
Researchers describe this persistent inflammation as a key risk factor for conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to neurodegenerative disorders. By targeting immune pathways, scientists hope to slow the biological processes that underlie multiple diseases at once.
Independent aging researchers say the immune system’s broad influence makes it an attractive target. “It’s a unifying mechanism,” said one gerontology expert not affiliated with the institute. “If you can modulate immune function safely, you may affect many age-related diseases simultaneously.”
Research Aims To Delay Disease, Preserve Independence
At the Buck Institute, scientists study how cellular changes over time alter immune responses and increase vulnerability to disease. The goal is to develop therapies and lifestyle strategies that preserve immune resilience.
Verdin said interventions may include dietary approaches, drugs that target inflammatory pathways, and personalized medicine based on biological age rather than chronological age.
He cautioned that longevity science is still evolving and that no single therapy will stop aging. “Aging is complex,” he said. “But by understanding the biology, we can intervene in smarter ways.”
As global life expectancy rises, researchers say the challenge is no longer only how long people live, but how well. Extending health span, Verdin argues, could allow more people to remain independent and engaged later in life.
“We all want more healthy years,” he said. “That’s the real promise of longevity research.”
