Chronic inflammation, often termed "inflammaging," is a significant contributor to the aging process and various age-related diseases. It’s important that we learn how inflammation impacts us and how the hallmarks of aging provide valuable insights into managing and mitigating its effects. To date, we know there are at least 9 Hallmarks of aging.
Genomic Instability
Genomic instability refers to the accumulation of DNA damage throughout our life, leading to mutations and chromosomal abnormalities.
➔ Inflammation impact: Chronic inflammation creates too many free radicals, resulting in oxidative damage to DNA. This leads to mutations and contributes to genomic instability setting us up for diseases and cancers.
Telomere Attrition
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division. Excessive shortening can trigger cellular senescence (unruly cells that stop dividing, but do not die) or apoptosis.
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammatory cytokines or immune signaling proteins that are released by immune cells and other cell types to trigger inflammation can accelerate telomere shortening, hastening cellular aging and the onset of age-related diseases (that means pretty much all diseases!).
Epigenetic Alterations
Epigenetic changes involve modifications in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. These modifications occur through DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling.
Image obtained at: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/Images/100440/F1
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammatory processes can lead to abnormal epigenetic changes, altering the expression of genes involved in inflammation, immune response, and cellular repair, which contribute to aging and disease. Epigenetic changes are well established in cancers, but also associated with autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases (like obesity, diabetes, liver disease, osteoporosis, and thyroid abnormalities), cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
Loss of Proteostasis
Proteostasis refers to the maintenance of cellular protein balance, like a teeter-totter with protein production on one side and protein breakdown on the other side.
➔ Inflammation impact: Chronic inflammation can impair the ability for proteins to be broken down and recycled, leading to the accumulation of damaged and misfolded proteins. This disrupts cellular function and accelerates aging and is classically associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Deregulated Nutrient-Sensing
Nutrient-sensing pathways allow cells to detect levels of nutrients such as: sugars, amino acids, and lipids These pathways are essential for life and regulate a variety of biological processes, including insulin/IGF-1 signaling, mTOR, AMPK, and sirtuins as they regulate metabolism and energy balance.
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammatory cytokines interfere with nutrient-sensing pathways, promoting insulin resistance and metabolic dysregulation, which contribute to the development of age-related diseases (like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases)
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, whose job is energy production. Dysfunctional mitochondria produce less energy and too many free radicals, causing oxidative stress.
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammation-induced oxidative stress damages mitochondrial DNA and proteins, impairing mitochondrial function which means less energy production for cells and more cellular oxidative stress. Any part of the body can be affected, but the critical organs like the brain, heart, and muscles are most commonly affected.
Cellular Senescence
Cellular senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest, where cells cease to divide but remain metabolically active, often secreting pro-inflammatory factors (SASP).
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammation promotes the accumulation of senescent cells, which secrete inflammatory cytokines, creating a vicious cycle that drives further inflammation and tissue dysfunction.
Image obtained at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/does-cellular-senescence-hold-secrets-healthier-aging
Stem Cell Exhaustion
Stem cell exhaustion refers to the decline in the regenerative capacity of stem cells, leading to impaired tissue repair and regeneration.
➔ Inflammation impact: Chronic inflammation depletes stem cell pools and impairs their function, reducing the body's ability to repair and regenerate tissues, contributing to aging and age-related diseases.
Altered Intercellular Communication
Intercellular communication involves the signaling between cells to coordinate bodily functions and maintain homeostasis or the state of balance between all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function optimally.
➔ Inflammation impact: Inflammatory signals disrupt normal intercellular communication, leading to a pro-inflammatory environment that exacerbates tissue damage and impairs physiological function, contributing to the aging process. Many diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, mental illness, and cancers can result from disrupted intercellular communication.
There's hope! Individuals now have access to a wide array of deep dive testing to discover the root causes of inflammation in their bodies. At Coastal Functional Medicine, Dr. Sandra and her team utilize innovative treatment strategies and bio-hacking tools to target inflammation in every organ system, which is critical in preventing disease and cancer. Research is revealing that with a proactive personalized wellness plan, healthy aging is possible.
If you would like to learn more about Holistic Longevity Medicine and Dr. Sandra’s approach, schedule an appointment here. We can’t wait to meet you!
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Reference:
López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. Cell, 186(2), 243–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.001