Short monologue explaining that while the immune system defends against pathogens, its majority role is policing the body's own cells—clearing senescent or "zombie" cells to maintain tissue function. The speaker uses an analogy of removing "lazy employees" to describe replacing dysfunctional cells and suggests boosting this cleanup may oppose aging ("Father Time").
I think a lot of us think of the immune system as something that protects us from foreign invaders, which it does, right? I mean, pathogens and bacteria, viruses. But the majority of the immune system's role is to police ourselves, keeps order in the body and cellular senescent. These cells that are also called zombie cells, whatever you want to call them, these are those cells that are kind of hanging around. They're still living, but they can no longer perform their function. And I think the idea of cleaning these out, getting rid of the lazy employees in our company, and putting people back in those seats that are hard and do their job is kind of a great analogy for how we can bolster the immune system and maybe fight back. Father Time.
Perimenopause Symptoms Can Start in Your Late 30s - Dr. Remina Panjwani | TUH 312
