Chronic inflammation underlies the geriatric syndrome of frailty, leading to declines in mobility and gait, sarcopenia, osteopenia, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases [1-2, 5-6]. In the process of ageing, genetic and environmental factors gradually result in loss of tissue homeostasis, stem cell depletion and organ dysfunction, ultimately leading to the progression of frailty in the aged individual [1-2].
As we age, there is a gradual build-up of damaged cells and macromolecules, toxic metabolites and byproducts in our bodies, and emergence of cellular senescence and immunosenescence [4-5]. Although the exact biological mechanisms underlying ageing frailty are not yet fully understood, it is thought to be caused in part by long-term, low-grade inflammation termed “inflammaging” [5-6].
Circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP, increase during ageing and are independent predictors of mortality in frail patients [7]. Not only does “inflammaging” accelerate the ageing process, it´s linked to chronic age-related diseases, like cardiovascular disease, cognitive and neurologic impairments, cancer, and osteoarthritis [8].
There is also a strong link between frailty, inflammation, and the impaired ability to repair tissue injury due to decreases in endogenous stem cell production [9].
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