Inflammaging

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Tolulope Adeniji  

Introduction

Old age is typified by an atypical low-grade, chronic, and "sterile" inflammatory state, now termed as "inflammaging." These changes are associated with a loss of physical and immune resilience, amplifying the risk of being malnourished and frail and significantly contributing to the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases and to the progression of the ageing process.

This 2 minute video gives a simple introduction to the topic.

Diet

The kind of diet adhered to affects inflammaging directly. Healthy diets that include a higher intake of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, nuts and fish appear to counteract the low grade age-related inflammation, for example the Mediterranean diet. Such diets are associated with lower concentrations of inflammatory mediators, like C-reactive protein (CRP) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), that are hallmarks of inflammaging.

An emerging area of research is the microbiome-ageing interaction. Studies show dysbiosis plays a role in sub-optimal metabolism, immune function and brain function, which all contribute to the poor health and impaired well-being associated with ageing. Modulation of the gut microbiota is showing promising results in some disorders.

Contributors to inflammaging include adipose tissue and dietary fat. Excessive intake of lipids can modify the gut microbiota contributing to metabolic endotoxemia, whilst omega 3 fatty acids (in eg fish oils) seem to attenuate this change. The aging-related increase and redistribution of body fat stand (higher fat content) allows the infiltration of M1 macrophages and T lymphocytes. These immune cells, and the adipocytes themselves, release cytokines and chemokines increasing the inflammatory profile.

Exercise

It is known that decreased physical activity has a detrimental role in muscle quality, and inappropriate nutritional habits favor the acceleration of immunosenescence and inflammaging.

Inflammaging has been associated with increased risk for skeletal muscle wasting, strength loss and functional impairments. Studies performed in animals and cell cultures show increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNF-α as well as increased levels of C-reactive protein).

Physical activity can alter the systemic inflammation of older adults regardless of their level of intensity, reducing blood fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels.

A Good Thing?

During aging the immunosenescence is seen to occur. This multifactorial dynamic phenomenon that affects both natural and acquired immunity, playing an important role in most chronic diseases in older people. Immunosenescence has been considered harmful as it may lead to inflammaging and a progressive loss of the ability to trigger effective antibody and cellular responses against infections and vaccinations. However a growing number of scientists are questioning this negative meaning because it can be considered an essential adaptation/remodeling resulting from the lifelong immunological biography of single individuals from an evolutionary perspective. Inflammaging can be considered an adaptive process because it can trigger an anti-inflammatory response to counteract the age-related pro-inflammatory environment

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