DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE AN ORGAN THAT TRAINS YOUR IMMUNE CELLS... THEN SHRINKS AS YOU GROW OLDER?

Yes, it's called the thymus.

The thymus is a small gland located just behind your breastbone. During childhood, it plays one of the most important roles in your immune system by "training" T cells, a type of white blood cell, to recognize harmful invaders while avoiding your own healthy tissues.

But here's the surprising part.

Once you reach puberty, the thymus gradually begins to shrink. Much of its active tissue is slowly replaced by fat, and by older adulthood, it is only a fraction of its original size.

Despite this, the T cells it trained earlier in life continue protecting your body for many years. Your immune system also develops other ways to maintain these cells as you age.

Factors that help support a healthy immune system include:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress
• Staying up to date with recommended vaccinations

Although the thymus naturally becomes smaller with age, certain medical conditions and treatments can affect its function or the development of T cells, making the body more vulnerable to infections.

It may be one of the least talked-about organs in the body, but without the thymus, your immune system would never have learned how to protect you in the first place.