Ever wonder why some people seem to handle the flu much better than others? According to a new study, it all goes back to childhood.
Researchers in Toronto say being exposed to different strains of the flu at a young age can make a person more or less resistant to the virus later in life, due to a process called "antigenic imprinting".
Because one strain of flu tends to dominate each year, scientists can use that information to assess health risks based on the year you were born. This could lead to a better understanding of how outbreaks happen.