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Bouncing Back Takes Time 
Can’t snap out of it after a cold, flu other other illness? That’s normal as you age, according to researchers at the University of Illinois. Feeling rundown for a prolonged period intensifies as we grow older, says Dr. Rodney Johnson, an integrative immunology and behavior researcher in animal sciences. In Johnson’s studies with mice (whose response to medical phenomena mirrors that of humans), older rodents recovering from infections suffered decreased appetites, weight loss and less social interaction. Why? It basically boils down to the brain being slow to inform the rest of the body. Cells called microglial facilitate healing but can overreact: “The exaggerated response can lead to a more intense and longer-lasting sickness behavior syndrome,” he says. |
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