Chronic Inflammation

What it is

“Inflammaging” is a chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammatory state that develops with age even in apparently healthy individuals. It is detectable biochemically (elevated IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP) before overt disease appears.

Why it matters in aging

Inflammaging is causally linked — in mechanistic and epidemiological studies — to cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, sarcopenia, frailty, many cancers, and neurodegenerative disease. It is one of the strongest predictors of all-cause mortality in older adults.

Mechanisms

• SASP from senescent cells (see Cellular senescence) feeds systemic cytokines.
• NLRP3 inflammasome activation by misfolded protein, cholesterol crystals, and mtDNA.
• Gut microbiome dysbiosis (see Dysbiosis) produces LPS and other inflammatory metabolites; gut permeability rises.
• Adipose-tissue inflammation in visceral fat fuels systemic IL-6.

What’s being studied

The CANTOS trial of canakinumab (anti-IL-1β) reduced major cardiovascular events and lung cancer incidence in patients with elevated hsCRP. Low-dose colchicine, salsalate, and SGLT2 inhibitors have anti-inflammatory effects relevant to aging. Lifestyle: exercise, Mediterranean diet, and sleep all lower inflammatory markers.

Related entries

See also: Cellular senescence, Dysbiosis, hsCRP.