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"On MRI images, this decline can be seen as fatty degeneration of the muscle, where streaks of fat replace muscle fibers."

Heikenwälder's team has now tested in mice whether this approach can also protect the liver from fatty degeneration and chronic inflammation.

In their study, the LiU researchers saw that individuals with fatty degeneration of the thymus showed lower T-cell regeneration.

"We saw a huge variation in thymus appearance. Six out of ten participants had complete fatty degeneration of thymus, which was much more common in men than in women, and in people with abdominal obesity. Lifestyle also mattered. Low intake of fibres in particular was associated with fatty degeneration of thymus," says Mårten Sandstedt.

After puberty, the thymus decreases in size and is eventually replaced by fat, in a process known as fatty degeneration.