Inflammaging
Inflammaging is the chronic, low-grade, sterile inflammation that builds up as you age. It happens even without any infection. It shows up as raised baseline levels of pro-inflammatory signals. Examples are IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP. What drives it? Senescent cells, accumulated cellular debris, gut dysbiosis, and a dysregulated immune system. Inflammaging is a recognized hallmark of aging. And in many studies, it is an independent risk factor. It is tied to higher odds of heart disease, neurodegeneration, frailty, muscle loss (sarcopenia), and overall death.
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Sources
- Franceschi C, Bonafè M, Valensin S, et al.. (2000). Inflamm-aging: An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. *Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences*doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06651.x
- Franceschi C, Campisi J. (2014). Chronic inflammation (inflammaging) and its potential contribution to age-associated diseases. *Journals of Gerontology A*doi:10.1093/gerona/glu057
Related studies from the research library
- Muscle Quality Beats Muscle Quantity for Healthy AgingEvidence: Moderate
- Why Your Mitochondria May Be Driving Aging and Chronic InflammationEvidence: Moderate
- How an Aging Immune System May Drive Alzheimer's and Parkinson'sEvidence: Moderate