Meta-inflammaging at the crossroad of geroscience.

Aging medicine (Milton (N.S.W)). 2019;2(3):157-161
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Plain language summary

The concept of “geroscience” represents a perspective in the understanding of the molecular underpinning of aging. Currently, seven biological processes are regarded as the underpinning of the aging process. This study is a review which focused on the link between chronic low‐grade sterile inflammation prevalent in old age and obesity‐associated metabolic inflammation. Old age, particularly in elderly adults with poor physical function or frailty, is linked to a state of chronic low‐grade sterile inflammation (inflammaging) with elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines [a general term for the immunoregulatory cytokines that favour inflammation]. Another potential source of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in aging is adipose, or fat tissue, which can be the largest organ in obese individuals. Obesity has been linked to a low‐grade sterile chronic inflammatory state, with similarities to inflammaging, and is termed “metainflammation”. Adiposity has emerged as a major source of inflammation in both diet‐ and aging‐associated obesity, which in turn is linked to most common diseases in old age.

Abstract

Geroscience posits that selected fundamental biological processes are the foundation of age-related chronic diseases and are responsible for the decline in physical and mental function in old age. Late-life chronic low-grade inflammation ("inflammaging") and altered signal transduction pathways in metabolism have been identified as two of the key themes in the aging process. Age-related changes in the immune and metabolic responses are also recognized as playing a critical pathogenic role in most common chronic medical conditions that plague the elderly. Emerging investigations emphasize the interconnectedness of the immune and metabolic responses in aging, an area of gerontological research that can be termed "meta-inflammaging."

Lifestyle medicine

Fundamental Clinical Imbalances : Immune and inflammation
Patient Centred Factors : Mediators/Obesity/aging
Environmental Inputs : Diet ; Nutrients
Personal Lifestyle Factors : Nutrition
Functional Laboratory Testing : Not applicable

Methodological quality

Jadad score : Not applicable
Allocation concealment : Not applicable
Publication Type : Journal Article ; Review

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