The thymus is an organ essential for immune defense and it weakens as people age, losing complete function at 65. In a new study, researchers are trying to understand why.

Professor Daniel Gray from WEHI laboratory spoke to 6PR Mornings host Gary Adshead on the study allowing researchers to visualise, for the first time, how two cell types drive this ageing process.

“We think that understanding why the thymus deteriorates and working out ways to bring it back might turn back the clock on the immune system,” he said.

Click PLAY to hear the full conversation.

Image: WEHI