Aging is inevitable, but it does not have to be traumatic. Growing old does not have to be
synonymous with deteriorating health and a continually weakening immune system. Although
the immune system providing a less sufficient response to infections and overall weaker
resistance to pathogens with age, immune senescence, or the aging and consequential
deterioration of the immune system, is multifactorial and many of these factors can be combated
to prevent the decay of health and substantially improve immune system functioning in the
elderly. One such factor is chronic low-grade inflammation, persisting inflammation caused by
an unnecessary immune response. A main cause of the aging process and deterioration of the
immune system is chronic low-grade inflammation, but the elderly can reduce it by diet,
response occurs when a pathogen enters the body. Pathogens are bacteria, viruses, and any
substances that do not belong in the body. The innate immune response is the immediate
response to the presence of these pathogens. It occurs when an immune cell finds and identifies
the pathogen by binding to its marker proteins. Upon recognizing the protein shape, the cell
attacks it. It signals for more immune cells to identify the intruder, triggering the active immune
response which targets that specific pathogen. The exhaustion of the innate immune cells is
caused by chronic low-grade inflammation overexerting them and is harmful to your overall
health.
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Immune senescence, or the aging and deterioration of the immune system, impairs the innate
immune response. Innate immune response cells become increasingly unable to fight pathogens
and dispose of them by phagocytosis, which is the process of swallowing the pathogens and
digesting them before or in order to kill them. Exhausted immune cells are unable to carry out
phagocytosis, allowing live pathogens to remain and waste to litter the body. The live pathogens
continue to multiply and damage the body by taking over cells and multiplying while dead
pathogens and waste disrupt the functioning of cells around them. This overall damage and
disruption has a collective negative effect on one’s health. This damage occurs due to
exhausting immune cells. Both inflammaging and the process of aging are “thought to represent
the progressive increase and spread of inflamed local and systemic environments of aged bodies”
(Reeve 1). The increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the immune system creates
this spread of inflammation. Cytokines are signals used by the body to trigger various different
low-grade inflammation the secretion of such cytokines is increased without need from the body.
The resulting prolonged low-grade causes inflammation cells to function differently, and the
Inflammaging includes the low-grade inflammation that characterises aging and the negative
impacts of that inflammation. Inflammaging “represent[s] the progressive increase and spread of
inflamed local and systemic environments of aged bodies” (Reeve 1). This increase and spread
the alteration of cellular communication and epigenetics which affects the concentration of
pro-inflammatory cytokines and their signal pathways. The body regulates its functions,
including the amount of inflammation present, using these signal pathways and gene expression.
The cytokines are the signals in these pathways and their creation is triggered by the expression
of a specific gene. They are secreted in response to the detection of pathogens, signalling the
resulting inflammation in order to aid the immune response. The signalled changes cause your
cells to function differently, and diminish the ability of your immune cells to fight infections.
The overall effect of the increased secretion is chronic low-grade inflammation. This
inflammation is unnecessary to protect the body and exhausts immune cells. This exhaustion
diminishes their ability to function. This means that if pro-inflammatory cytokines can be
counteracted, then their negative impacts on innate immune system functioning will also be.
inflammation. Anti-inflammatory cytokines have this effect because they are inhibitors of
pro-inflammatory cytokines and are used by the body to regulate the immune system and
inflammation specifically. They inhibit the production of specific proinflammatory cytokines and
reduce the formerly increased secretion of such cytokines. The effects of increased secretion of
cytokine in response to the increased secretion and causes of chronic low-grade inflammation.
Only “specific ones would correspond” to “directly counteract the effects of the inflammatory
balanced with that of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in order for your immune system to remain
response to pathogens. The excess of anti-inflammatory cytokines would impair this response by
disabling the body from creating inflammation on the scale it is needed. Matching the
secreted allows for the unnecessary inflammation to be prevented. This means that the
exhaustion of immune cells from overuse due to inflammation is minimized while not impairing
Metabolism is another factor in how fast the body ages.while diet is a prevalent factor in
the chronic low-grade inflammation that exists in your body. Following an anti-inflammatory
diet and avoiding certain foods and drinks that promote inflammation would allow for the
immune system to reduce the overall inflammation in the body. Certain vitamins and minerals
present in these foods improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce chronic
low-grade inflammation. The nutrients and components work similarly to the anti-inflammatory
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cytokines by counteracting chemicals that are meant to increase inflammation. They are similarly
cytokines are increasingly secreted in response to their presence, creating more inflammation as
the concentration of free radicals increases. . They are created via a process called oxidation,
which involves the exchange of an electron from one molecule to another. A highly reactive
molecules is created by the resulting unpaired electron. Antioxidants prevent oxidation from
occurring and therefore reduce the amount of free radicals present in the body. Many different
foods have antioxidants in them. . Consuming any of these foods rich in antioxidants as apart of
on anti-inflammatory diet prevents further inflammation from being created by free radicals.
vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and low in refined grain” (Giugliano 1). Dark green leaves are
specifically known for their anti-inflammatory properties. They “supply a significant amount of
folate…Folate is also necessary for DNA duplication and repair which protects against the
development of cancer.” (Yan 1). Mutations in DNA build and cause certain malfunctions in the
individual cells’ functioning, including immune cell functioning. An increased amount of folate
aids in preventing these mutations and the resulting malfunctions, aiding the immune system’s
integrity. They also improve functioning by providing antioxidants. Because of this “these
natural antioxidant sources can be used as a preventive medicine. Recent investigation suggested
that there is an inverse link between the dietary consumption of antioxidant rich foods and
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prevalence of human illness” (Arulselvan 5). The immune system’s defense against pathogens is
notably improved by the consumption of antioxidant rich foods. This is most certainly caused by
the reduction of free radicals and the resulting reduction of unnecessary inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids, a specific type of fat found in various sources, decrease
inflammation. A diet with omega-3s and polyphenols has been proven successful in reducing
Omega-3 PUFA reduces this inflammation reduces by reducing the immune response on the
cellular level by “competing with arachidonic acid, which produces inflammatory eicosanoids”
(Blackburn 1). Eicosanoids are chemicals that promote inflammation in the body and the
omega-3 PUFA. Preventing inflammatory eicosanoids from being created and prevents the body
from using them to signal for inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in cold-water fatty
fish, walnuts, chia seed, flaxseed, soybean oil, and canola oil. These should be a large part of a
anti-inflammatory diet. The anti-inflammatory properties of Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant
rich foods would reduce the inflammation in the body significantly. This would reduce the
exhausted cells created by the increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by free
Exercise impacts how your immune system functions and can affect the overall inflammation
in the body. The overall inflammation can be determined by the circulation of acute-phase
proteins (APPs). The plasma concentrations of this class of proteins either increases or decreases
protein, therefore increasing when inflammation occurs. It is a blood test marker used to assess
chronic low-grade inflammation and changes in the overall inflammation in the body.
Physical activity stimulates the metabolism in the organ systems, including the oxidative,
especially if it is done in long durations and high intensity, there is muscle and connective tissue
damage. This damage causes for an initial increase in inflammation as the body repairs the tissue
damage. If exercise is done consistently at this level of intensity and length of time, the body
attenuates to it as “the tissue adapts to the new overload stress” (Woods 1). Exercise can both
cause and lessen inflammation. Consistent exercise is needed to reduce inflammation in the
body.
and more intense physical activity. This is measured by the decrease in inflammatory marker
reduction in IL-6. CRP was 32% lower after exercise” (Woods 1). Inflammation decreased
pro-inflammatory cytokine, decreased with exercise as well. Exercise therefore combats the
secretion of inflammatory cytokines and prevents them from signalling for inflammation. The
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reduction of inflammation occured within a wide range of ages and races. Exercise has therefore
To optimize the functioning of immune system in defiance to the natural aging process
inflammation and must live a certain lifestyle that reduces inflammation. Inflammation can be
This, along with a diet that discourages inflammation and an exercise routine that does the same,
will prevent chronic low-grade inflammation and nullify its effect on the innate immune
system’s functioning. These improvements to immune system functioning would give the elderly
an easier, more enjoyable old age, and prolong their life. Their immune systems would be
stronger and more capable of fighting illness. Sickness would not be long and drawn out for the
elderly, they would be able to recover and be healthy. They would live longer and not be
weathered and exhausted from having such long and drawn out fights. If applied earlier in life,
these strategies would prolong life even longer, one’s immune system would act and function as
that of a person substantially younger. These treatments of the immune system’s exhaustion with
age would create a better more enjoyable life for anyone who used them.
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Blackburn, G L. “Nutrition and Inflammatory Events: Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids
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Franceschi, C. “Inflammaging as a Major Characteristic of Old People: Can It Be
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Giugliano, D, et al. “The Effects of Diet on Inflammation: Emphasis on the Metabolic
Syndrome.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology., U.S. National Library of
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Nutrition at the Cutting Edge.” Psychosomatic Medicine, U.S. National Library of
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Minciullo, Paola Lucia, et al. “Inflammaging and Anti-Inflammaging: The Role of
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