Review: how age-related immune aging and inflammation may affect vaccine responses in older adults
This review summarizes recent knowledge on how immunosenescence and inflammaging may contribute to poorer vaccine responses in older adults, and discusses proposed strategies to improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review states that aging negatively affects vaccine effectiveness and efficacy and links immunosenescence and inflammaging to poorer vaccine responses. [1]
The review discusses proposed strategies such as IL-7 therapy, senolytic therapy, mTOR inhibitors, broader vaccines and new adjuvants to enhance vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in older adults. [1]
The review focuses on vaccine efficacy against respiratory tract infections and summarizes recent knowledge rather than reporting original study data. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- Older adults and their vaccine responses
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 3, 2026
Age-related immune changes and vaccine response
The review states that aging negatively affects vaccine effectiveness and efficacy. With age, the source describes dysregulation of innate immune pathways, higher levels of proinflammatory markers, thymic involution, declines in T- and B-cell numbers and function, dysregulated metabolism and epigenetic alterations. Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of host immunity with age, is said to play a critical role in susceptibility to infection, disease progression and vaccine efficacy. It is often accompanied by inflammaging, an age-related increase in proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels.
Supporting source [1]
Possible consequences and proposed strategies
According to the review, this multifactorial and dynamic process can lead to poor vaccine responses, potentially resulting in higher morbidity and mortality in older adults. The review discusses strategic approaches to enhance vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in older adults: IL-7 therapy, senolytic therapy, increasing telomerase activity, use of mTOR inhibitors, B cell therapy, development of broader vaccines and new adjuvants, and positive lifestyle changes. These are presented as approaches discussed in the review, not as established treatments.
Supporting source [1]
Scope: respiratory infections and review format
The review focuses on vaccine efficacy against respiratory tract infections. It summarizes what the authors describe as the most recent knowledge on the multifactorial effects of age-induced immunosenescence and inflammaging. The stated aim is to provide theoretical insights to improve vaccine effectiveness in older adults. The abstract does not report original study data, sample sizes or measured outcomes; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. No original study data, sample sizes, follow-up or measured outcomes are reported in the abstract. The proposed strategies are discussed approaches, not established treatments, and associations described are not proof of cause.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Albaloshi J, Alnakhli A, Cham LB. · europepmc.org · July 3, 2026