How ageing and inflammation are connected – all you need to know
Ageing is a natural part of life, and while many of us notice the outward signs of older age, like wrinkles and thinning hair, what we don’t see is what is going on inside our bodies.
Research has shown a link between increased age and chronic inflammation, a condition that can cause damage to your body and increase your risk of certain health conditions. In addition, chronic inflammation has been found to speed up the ageing process, thereby further increasing the risk of serious health conditions, including some cancers. So, understanding more about your risk of chronic inflammation and what you can try to do to prevent it can be vital as you age.
In this guide, we explore the effects of chronic inflammation on the body as we age and share ways to reduce your risk.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural immune response to injury, disease, or infection.
When working correctly, the immune system releases inflammatory cells, which initiate an inflammatory response in your body to destroy and neutralise germs or toxins and start healing the process. Once the threat has been dealt with, the inflammatory cells switch off allowing the inflammation to subside.
This is known as acute inflammation, and although it can cause short-term pain, swelling or discolouration of the skin, it is a normal part of the healing process.
Different types of inflammation
Acute inflammation is vital as without this natural immune response, your body wouldn’t be able to fight off infection or heal injuries.
Acute inflammation should only be a short-term response and usually lasts between a few hours or a few days depending on the injury or infection.
In some cases, the inflammatory response does not turn off, and your body continues sending inflammatory cells even when there is no danger. This is known as chronic inflammation, and it can damage healthy tissues in your body, leading to a range of chronic health conditions like arthritis, some cancers, and autoimmune disorders.
Chronic inflammation can last for months or years and many people experience peaks and troughs in their condition.
Symptoms of chronic inflammation
The symptoms of chronic inflammation can be harder to spot than acute inflammation, as they tend to be more widespread and less localised to the area that initially caused the inflammatory response. Common symptoms people experiencing chronic inflammation report include:
- Feeling tired all the time
- Unexplained muscle aches or joint pain
- Stomach issues, such as constipation or diarrhoea
- Unexplained weight gain
- Headaches
- Skin rashes
What is the link between inflammation and ageing?
Research has shown that as we age, the body’s natural inflammatory response increases. As a result, older people can be more at risk of developing chronic inflammation, which can accelerate the ageing process and increase the risk of numerous health conditions. Inflammation that is a characteristic of increasing age is what scientists fittingly call “inflammaging”.
Inflammaging has also been linked to decreased brain health and increased frailty, both often experienced by people as they get older.
What conditions can inflammation increase your risk of as you age?
Inflammaging can increase your risk of numerous health conditions, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety
What is the link between inflammation and cancer?
There is a link between increased inflammation and an increased risk of some types of cancer caused by infectious agents. For example, stomach cancer caused by Helicobacter pylori is characterised by chronic inflammation of the stomach.
Although this link is not fully understood, it is believed that an increased inflammatory response can:
- Help create the right environment for the growth of some cancer cells
- Promote the growth and spread of cancer once it has developed
This is thought to be because the inflammatory response produces molecules called cytokines, which stimulate the growth of blood vessels supplying the tumour with oxygen and nutrients.
What cancers are linked to inflammation?
There are several types of cancer that have been linked to chronic inflammation due to infection, including:
- Colorectal cancer - linked to inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Nasopharyngeal cancer (cancer in the back of the nose) - linked to Epstein-Barr virus
- Stomach or gastric cancer - linked to Helicobacter pylori infection
- Liver cancer – linked to Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viral infections
- Lung, anus and liver cancer – linked to HIV infections
- Cervical cancer – linked to human papillomavirus
- Bladder cancer – linked to schistosomiasis infections caused by parasitic flatworms
Although infections are one cause of chronic inflammation and increased cancer risk, there are other factors too. For example, ultraviolet light can increase the risk of melanoma (skin cancer) and smoking, which is the leading cause of lung cancer.
Ways to help prevent inflammaging
Although you can’t halt the ageing process, it is possible to take steps to reduce your risk of developing chronic inflammation and any associated health conditions that can become more prevalent as you age. The best way to minimise your risk of chronic inflammation is to:
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet – this means eating plenty of fruits, leafy green vegetables, fatty fish, olive oil and whole grain foods and reducing your intake of processed foods, refined carbohydrates, fried foods and processed meats.
- Stop smoking – smoking is known to promote inflammation throughout the body, so giving up is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic inflammation causing other long-term health conditions.
- Exercise regularly – moderate exercise acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, so it is a good idea to try to get at least 30 minutes a day five times a week.
- Monitor your health – Staying on top of your health by gaining regular insights into your wellbeing can help you spot any potential risks earlier and take a proactive approach to managing them.
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