Researchers have found that the long-held belief in the inevitable increase of inflammation with age, fueling diseases like heart disease and dementia, may not be universal. A new study, published in Nature Aging, compared inflammation patterns in diverse communities, suggesting that modern lifestyles might significantly impact the aging process.
Groundbreaking Indigenous Study
Scientists analyzed blood samples from over 2,800 individuals across four distinct communities: the industrialized nations of Italy and Singapore, and the Indigenous groups of the Tsimane in the Bolivian Amazon and the Orang Asli in Malaysia. The focus was to verify if the inflammation patterns observed in earlier studies, which linked inflammation to age-related diseases, were consistent globally.
Results varied significantly between the two types of communities. The industrialized societies showed a clear pattern of inflammaging, where markers like C-reactive protein rose with age, correlating with increased chronic disease risk. However, this pattern was notably absent in the Indigenous populations.
Rethinking Aging and Inflammation
The findings indicate that inflammaging might not be an unavoidable feature of aging. Instead, it could be a consequence of contemporary lifestyles characterized by high-calorie diets and decreased physical activity. In contrast, traditional lifestyles, marked by higher physical activity and exposure to infections, might result in a different immune response, where inflammation does not necessarily lead to chronic diseases.
In the Tsimane community, for instance, despite elevated inflammatory markers due to infections, they experience significantly lower rates of conditions like heart disease and diabetes compared to industrialized societies. This suggests that the inflammation observed might be a healthy adaptation rather than a detriment.
Implications for Global Health
If these findings hold, they could have profound implications. Current biomarkers used to gauge inflammaging in European or Asian populations might not be applicable universally. Additionally, lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing chronic inflammation may need to be tailored to different populations.
The research also highlights the importance of diversifying scientific studies beyond wealthy, industrialized nations. Insights from these studies should not be automatically generalized to all populations. The researchers call for more inclusive research that considers various aspects of human experience, urging the use of advanced tools to detect inflammation at cellular and tissue levels.
This study challenges the universality of inflammaging and suggests that what was thought to be a biological constant might instead be shaped by environmental and lifestyle factors. It underscores the need to broaden the scope of health research to better understand aging processes across different cultures and lifestyles.
