Thymus Health Tied to Longevity and Cancer Outcomes

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have discovered that the thymus, a small organ in the upper chest long considered inactive after childhood, plays a significant role in adult health, influencing longevity and responses to cancer treatments. In two studies published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the team used artificial intelligence to analyze routine CT scans from thousands of patients, revealing that healthier thymic function correlates with lower risks of death from various causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The thymus trains T cells, key components of the immune system that combat infections and diseases. Traditionally, scientists viewed the organ as shrinking and losing relevance after puberty, producing fewer new T cells as it is gradually replaced by fat tissue. However, the new research challenges this view by demonstrating the thymus's ongoing contributions to immune resilience throughout life.

In the first study, investigators examined CT scans and medical records from more than 25,000 adults in the National Lung Screening Trial, a large-scale effort to detect early lung cancer, along with data from over 2,500 participants in the Framingham Heart...