Inflammageing is defined as an age-related increase in the level of inflammatory markers in blood and tissues. This chronic and low-grade inflammation is a marker of biological ageing, multiple diseases, all-cause mortality and mortality risk.

Inflammation can be distinguished by acute and chronic. Acute is totally necessary to heal from wounds and cuts. However, low grade chronic inflammation is a consequence of aging, and this could lead to a host of illness such as cancer, decrease immune activity, loss of mobility, arthritis, cognitive degeneration and even weight gain and the dreaded cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 

What Causes Inflammation?

Inflammation is caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines that are release during infection and during an injury. Inflammation is necessary for recovery and is a life saver. However, inflammation when it’s chronic can turn on negative gene expression and too much of it turns on NF-κB (proinflammatory) pathway. The NF-κB pathway is activated by hundred fifty different stimuli such as UV radiation, carcinogens, other cytokines, bacteria etc. NF-κB alters gene expression in the cell and results in the creation of inflammatory proteins and chronic inflammation.