In this episode of Longevity Roadmap, Dr. Buck Joffrey speaks with Dr. Derya Unutmaz, an immunologist at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. Their discussion dives into the role of T cells in immunity and ageing, the microbiome’s influence on health, and bold predictions for reversing ageing in the coming decades.

Key Points:

Dr. Derya Unutmaz highlights how T cells and the gut microbiome are central to maintaining immune balance, and that targeting them could help slow immune decline, reduce chronic disease risk, and extend overall healthspan. He also emphasizes that rapid advances in AI-driven biology and digital simulations may accelerate discoveries, bringing the possibility of true ageing reversal and extreme life extension within reach by the 2040s.

• T Cells as Immune Generals: T cells act as the “commanders” of the immune system, regulating responses to infections, cancers, and inflammation. Their dysfunction contributes to immune decline with age.
• Immune Ageing and Inflammaging: Ageing reduces the pool of naïve T cells, increasing vulnerability to infections, cancer, and chronic inflammation—a process known as inflammaging.
• The Thymus and Regeneration: The thymus, where new T cells originate, shrinks after adolescence. Research explores whether thymus regeneration and cytokine therapies could restore immune resilience.
• Gut Microbiome Link to Longevity: The microbiome plays a central role in shaping immune function. Loss of beneficial bacteria and metabolites like butyrate accelerates inflammation and chronic disease, while diet offers a way to intervene.
• Innovative Therapies: Advances in engineered immune cells (e.g., CAR-T therapy) may extend beyond cancer treatment to target ageing cells, potentially delaying or reversing age-related decline.
• AI and Longevity Escape Velocity: Artificial intelligence could accelerate drug discovery and “digital twin” simulations, making it possible to test therapies in silico. Dr. Unutmaz predicts that ageing reversal may be achievable within 15–20 years.