Inflammaging: From Mechanisms to Clinical Implications and Targeted Interventions

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Inflammaging is a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state associated with biological aging.
• It contributes to functional decline, frailty, and age-associated diseases by promoting tissue damage and metabolic dysregulation.
• Key features include elevated damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and senescent cells with a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To distinguish inflammaging from general chronic inflammation.
• To synthesize current understanding of inflammaging's biological origins and mechanistic drivers.
• To examine the role of inflammaging in clinical outcomes such as sarcopenia, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing literature on inflammaging.
• Analysis of biological mechanisms, including DAMPs, cytokines, cellular senescence, and metabolic imbalance.
• Examination of clinical outcomes and potential translational frameworks.

Main Results:

• Inflammaging impairs immune surveillance, increases oxidative stress, and enhances tissue vulnerability.
• It is influenced by chronological aging, behavioral, environmental, psychosocial, and genetic factors, indicating a modifiable nature.
• Evidence links inflammaging to sarcopenia, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease progression.

Conclusions:

• Inflammaging is a critical component of aging, impacting health-span and disease risk.
• A conceptual framework is proposed linking inflammaging mechanisms to biomarkers, AI risk stratification, and precision interventions.
• Further research and multi-dimensional strategies are needed to promote resilience and extend health-span by targeting inflammaging.