A PILLAR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: INFLAMMAGING

Abstract

With the prolongation of life expectancy, the increase in the number of elderly individuals in societies and the high rates of disability, frailty and morbidity associated with this situation have led to the acceptance of old age as a prior social problem. And since the 2000s, many studies have been carried out in this field. Inflammation is a very important physiological function and a complex biological process that is initiated by the immune system in response to infection, injury or tissue damage. In connection with this process, inflammaging refers to the chronic, low-grade inflammation that occurs with aging. As one ages, the immune system undergoes changes including a descent in the production of new immune cells and a decrease in the ability of existing immune cells to function properly that can contribute to a state of chronic inflammation. Clinical trials suggest that modulating inflammation prevents many of the chronic diseases, frailty, and disability that increases at older age. In the light of existing information, one can predict that a possible reason for long life today is the capability of reaching an optimal balance between pro- inflammatory (C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and anti-inflammatory (Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, Cortisol, Interleukin-10) molecules. Keywords: Aging; Cellular Senescence; Inflammation; Immunosenescence.