"Inflammaging" What is it?

"Inflammaging" is a term that combines the words "inflammation" and "aging" and refers to a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation that increases with aging. This phenomenon involves the constant presence of low-intensity inflammatory processes in the body over time and has been associated with various aging-related health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Persistent chronic inflammation can negatively affect tissue function and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Imagine your body is like a forest, and inflammation is like small fires that can occur in different parts of that forest. These small fires represent chronic, low-grade inflammation. As time passes, these fires may not completely go out, but may continue to burn, albeit gently. This constant pattern of small fires over the years is called "inflammaging." Although these fires are small, over time they can grow uncontrolled and affect the overall health of the forest. In the body, persistent chronic inflammation, even mild ones, can negatively affect tissues and contribute to the development of aging-related health problems. In more practical terms, think of an older person who may notice joint stiffness or memory problems. These could be examples of how persistent inflammation over the years can affect the functionality of different parts of the body and contribute to health problems associated with aging, such as arthritis or cognitive decline. In short, "inflammaging" would be like the tiny sparks that affect machine performance over time.

What is the role of obesity in this process?

Again, imagine your body as a forest. Obesity would be like having too much undergrowth (fat) in the forest. When there's too much undergrowth, the risk of fires increases and creates problems, and that can trigger uncontrolled fires, representing inflammation. Obesity can lead to constant inflammation in the body, or "inflammaging." This chronic inflammation is not only linked to aging but can also cause health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Some factors that link obesity with inflammaging include:

• Fat cells (adipocytes): Fat cells release pro-inflammatory chemicals, which can trigger and maintain chronic inflammation.
• Immune response: Obesity can alter the function of the immune system, leading to a chronic inflammatory response.
• Insulin resistance: Obesity is often associated with insulin resistance, which can also contribute to inflammation and inflammaging.
• Changes in gut microbiota: Obesity can affect the composition of bacteria in the gut, which in turn can influence inflammation.

What can/should we do?

The basic recommendations are the “classic” ones

• Maintain a Healthy Diet: Prioritize a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Limit your intake of processed foods, added sugars, and saturated fats.
• Practice Regular Physical Activity: Incorporate regular exercise into your routine, such as walking, running, swimming, or any activity you enjoy. Physical activity helps control weight and reduces inflammation.
• Weight Management: Maintain a healthy body weight. Weight loss, if needed, can reduce inflammation in people who are overweight or obese.
• Manage Stress: Practice stress management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or simply taking time to relax. Chronic stress can contribute to inflammation.
• Get Enough Sleep: Make sure you have a good sleep pattern. Lack of sleep can contribute to inflammation and negatively affect your weight.
• Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption and Avoid Smoking: Limit alcohol intake and avoid smoking, as these factors can contribute to health problems and increase inflammation.

Other alternatives / aids

The body is a self-care machine; that is, it has its own solutions for dealing with health situations. Inflammation is like the body's defense system against injury or infection. But it's important not only to reduce what causes it, but also to pay attention to the resolution phase, where the body turns off the "alarm," cleans up the mess, and rebuilds itself to return to normal after a problem. This resolution phase is crucial to avoiding long-term problems and ensuring the body recovers properly after facing challenges. Harvard University discovered that certain chemicals found inside our bodies—metabolites called resolvins, among others—are like "resolve masters" that help calm inflammation and repair the body. These resolvins act like orchestra conductors, changing cell behavior to stop inflammation and promote repair. Modern technology has made it possible to discover external precursors to resolvins, which are the elements necessary for their production. These precursors are 17-HDHA, 14-HDHA, and 18-HEPE, and they can be found in fish oil after undergoing a rigorous and highly complex cleaning and concentration process. Instead of relying on anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen to treat chronic inflammation, which can cause multiple side effects with prolonged use, we can take these resolvin precursors to treat inflammation long-term and promote its natural resolution, maintaining our health and quality of life.