Inflammaging: How Inflammation Accelerates Aging

Inflammaging: How Inflammation Accelerates Aging

Written by: Clement Ng, Nutritionist of HealthPro | 6 minutes read

Age and Inflammation

Research consistently shows that inflammation naturally increases with age even without any infection or injury (Emily L Goldberg, 2015). This ongoing, low-grade inflammation is known as ‘inflamm-aging’, which contributes significantly to aging and increased risk of age-related diseases (Carlos López-Otín, 2013).

And ultimately contributing to frailty, disability and mortality as people get older (Amit Singh, 2023).

Some of the mechanisms through which inflammation accelerates the aging process include (Claudio Franceschi, 2014):

·       DNA damage

·       Cellular senescence

·       Mitochondrial dysfunction

·       Telomere shortening

·       Tissue degeneration

Thus, inflammaging not only speeds up the aging process but also continuously disrupts normal tissue homeostasis and repair. As a result, a vicious cycle is created where aging cells release more pro-inflammatory signals, further aggravating the inflammation (Luigi Ferrucci, 2018).

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a natural host defense mechanism and an essential part of the body’s healing process (Samo Borko, 2025). Its activation is characterised by an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to an infection, damage or injury to uphold tissue homeostasis while resulting in elimination of the threat (Medzhitov, 2010).

The Dual Role of Inflammation

When an infection occurs, the body responds with acute inflammation which helps to isolate the affected area, prevent the spread of harmful agents, and facilitates the repair of damaged tissues (Hunter, 2012).

This process is crucial for survival, as it protects the body from harmful agents while supporting the repair and recovery of damaged tissues (Carl Nathan, 2010).

Once the healing is complete, the inflammatory response is switched off to allow tissues to return to their normal state (Christopher D Buckley, 2014).

While acute inflammation is beneficial, a persistent low-grade inflammatory response that lasts for months or even years (Claudio Franceschi, 2014), known as chronic inflammation, can cause severe tissue damage (Carl Nathan, 2010).

This prolonged inflammatory response is often caused by persistent infections, environmental stressors, and overactive immune response that mistakenly targets healthy tissues (Christopher D Buckley, 2014).

In addition, it is also closely related to lifestyle factors including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and stress, which further exacerbate the inflammatory response (David Furman, 2019).

Unlike acute inflammation which resolves after healing is completed, chronic inflammation does not switch off but progresses silently (Alastair Hunt, 2025).

Prolonged exposure to inflammation leaves the body in a constant state of overdrive and can cause an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer (Ben Dugan, 2023).

Causes of Inflammaging

Gut Dysbiosis 

The gut microbiome experiences changes in composition during aging, such as a decrease in species diversity, rise in pro-inflammatory species, and loss of beneficial species (Mansoor Khaledi, 2024).

Meanwhile, advancing age also results in increased gut permeability, allowing easier translocation of pathogens from the gut into the circulation (Buford, 2017).

Ultimately, the imbalance of gut microbiome and recurrent invasion of harmful pathogens from the disrupted tight junctions can sustain inflammation, thereby causing tissue damage (Buford, 2017).

Immunosenescence

Immunosenescence, which refers to the progressive decline of immune function with increasing age, is a major contributor to inflammaging (Ludmila Müller, 2025).

It is characterised by thymic involution which causes reduced production of naïve T cells and naïve B cells, leading to reduced ability to respond to novel antigens and lower antibody affinity, respectively (Palmer, 2013).

Besides, age-related mitochondrial dysfunction can cause increased oxidative damage due to increased production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) while also contributing to the accumulation of senescent immune cells and the subsequent increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Anthony T. Phan, 2017).

The decline of immune cell functions, including reduced pathogen recognition, defective antigen presentation, and diminished adaptive responses collectively lead to a weakened immune response against pathogens (Claudio Franceschi, 2014).

As a result, these pathogens remain unresolved and continuously stimulate the immune system to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing a prolonged inflammatory response (Tamas Fulop, 2018).

Ways to Reduce Inflammaging

A common way to reduce inflammation is by adopting the Mediterranean Diet (MD) which can supply the body with anti-inflammatory compounds.

Being rich in unrefined carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and fish with limited red meat and processed foods, MD not only reduces inflammation, but also supports healthy aging by promoting healthy cardiovascular and brain function (Edyta Wawrzyniak-Gramacka, 2021).

Engaging regularly in moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling can help in lowering inflammatory markers (Alastair Hunt, 2025).

For instance, a study has found the post-exercise skeletal muscle inflammatory profile of older men who do regular exercise to be the same as that of younger men (Hawley E. Kunz, 2023).

On the other hand, sedentary lifestyle has been associated with increased inflammation and decline in anti-inflammatory cytokines (Michael G Flynn, 2019).

Application

With an increasing lifespan, the phenomenon of inflammaging is likely to become more severe in the years to come.

While healthy diet and lifestyle have shown promising outcomes in reducing inflammation, recent nutritional evidence has brought to light the role of health supplements in promoting a healthy inflammatory response.

Activa Well-Being Inflamlyse has a consistent track record of alleviating inflammation.

The product is formulated with ingredients to manage healthy inflammatory response in various parts of the body including the nervous system, connective tissue, immune system, and cardiovascular system as well as to enhance the removal of inflammatory end products.

Strong MIYARISAN® Probiotics with over 80 years of clinical use has also demonstrated its ability in reducing inflammation by improving gut dysbiosis.

The C. Butyricum strain contributes by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and strengthening the mucus layer and gut barrier, thereby limiting the translocation of pathogens and any subsequent inflammation.

The probiotic strain also produces butyric acid that can be metabolized by the intestinal epithelial cells to exert anti-inflammatory effects, further alleviating inflammaging.