Slow Down Inflammaging to Enjoy a Longer Health Span

Chronic inflammation, which builds up in the body as we age, may disrupt functions necessary to keep us healthy. Fortunately, there are ways to slow it down.

Inflammaging, the term first coined in 2000 by Italian scientist Claudio Franceschi, refers to chronic, low-grade inflammation that occurs with aging. While inflammation is a normal part of the body's response to injuries and germs necessary to promote healing, it may have a detrimental impact on health when it becomes chronic.

As we age, our immune system becomes less and less able to properly distinguish between friend and foe within our body, says Dr. Chris Rhodes, a nutritional biologist and longevity expert.

This decreases its ability to fight off infection and results in the overproduction of pro-inflammatory molecules, which disturb our bodies' natural homeostasis and interfere with the function of the other cells in our body.

"When the body is on high alert due to chronic levels of inflammation, our cells can't focus on doing things they are supposed to do like cellular turnover, recycling, repair, and maintenance, which are crucial functions that help the body and mind stay young and healthy," Rhodes tells Healthnews.

A study of centenarians — individuals 100 years or older — discovered that a low-level inflammation, after age itself, is the most important determinant of survival, capability, and cognition. It was found to be a better predictor of successful aging than the length of DNA sections called telomeres, which have been long thought to have longevity benefits.

When does inflammaging begin?

While most studies see the rise of inflammaging in individuals 55 and older, its beginning varies from person to person, Rhodes explains. The timing depends on factors such as exercise, diet, stress levels, and our microbiome. Environmental and genetic factors can also play a role.

"Inflammaging itself is an exponential process; the pace accelerates as we get older, and the chronic build of inflammation and cellular damage becomes more severe," he adds.

According to Rhodes, major diseases that involve the immune system, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, also contribute to overactive immune systems, exacerbating and accelerating the rate of inflammaging.

Can you be tested for inflammaging?

Keith Kirkwood, DDS, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research at the University of Buffalo, says indirect evidence links the aged immune system with chronic conditions, including cancer, arthritis, and periodontal diseases. However, it may be too early to talk about testing for inflammaging.

"It would be premature to suggest that there could be a surrogate marker in blood or serum that would be indicative of inflammaging causing any chronic inflammatory disease at this time," Kirkwood tells Healthnews.

How to slow down inflammaging

Rhodes says several lifestyle changes can positively impact the rate of inflammaging and aging in general. The primary method is altering the diet, which is the major source of daily inflammation in the body. Moreover, it is the diet that determines how the immune system is fed and regulated on a cellular level.

These lifestyle changes can help slow down inflammaging, according to Rhodes:

• Eating food high in fiber, anti-inflammatory components like polyphenols, and antioxidants.
• Adopting a Mediterranean diet rich in omega-3s, seafood, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes.
• Decreasing daily stress as much as possible.
• Practicing mindfulness and meditation.
• Engaging in physical activities like walking, resistance training, or even gardening daily.
• Ensuring adequate and restful sleep.

Are there medications for inflammaging?

There are no medications specifically designed to reduce or treat inflammaging. However, Rhodes says, it could be delayed or lessened over time by certain pro-longevity medications, like diabetes drug metformin and rapamycin, an immunosuppressant for organ transplant patients.

Supplements such as NAD+ precursors, spermidine, urolithin A, astaxanthin, and Mimio may also have anti-inflammaging effects, according to Rhodes.

In mice, a low-dose combination of drugs dasatinib and quercetin was demonstrated to reduce senescent cells that contribute to aging and inflammation in the gut. While the discovery shows promise in improving health span, it is yet to be seen what effect these drugs would have on humans.

A 2023 study suggests that mitochondria in the macrophages, the immune system cells, lose their ability to take up and use calcium with age, leading to chronic inflammation. Researchers believe therapies that increase calcium uptake by mitochondrial macrophages could prevent inflammaging; however, such treatments would be way more complex than taking calcium supplements.

Healthy lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and the Mediterranean diet, may help slow down inflammaging and prevent multiple chronic conditions — it’s never too late to implement them.