Looking at Inflammation and Aging Through an Evolutionary Lens

By edited by Stephanie Baum | Reviewed by Robert Egan

Published on: August 20, 2025

It has long been established that aging is associated with an increase in inflammation, a phenomenon commonly referred to as inflammaging. This chronic inflammation correlates with a myriad of health issues, including cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. However, recent research challenges the notion that inflammaging is universally experienced in aging human populations.

Study Overview

Published in the Proceedings of Royal Society B, the study titled "Inflammaging is Minimal Among Forager-Horticulturalists in the Bolivian Amazon" reveals significant findings regarding inflammation levels in different communities influenced by varying degrees of modernization.

Led by Jacob Aronoff, a postdoctoral research scholar at Arizona State University (ASU), the study focused on two communities in the Bolivian Amazon: the Tsimane and the Moseten.

The Tsimane population, comprising more than 17,000 individuals living a hunter-farmer lifestyle, presents a unique model for understanding aging processes, relatively uninfluenced by modern-day factors. Previous studies have indeed positioned the Tsimane among the healthiest populations globally.

Inflammation Measurement

The research aimed to assess whether the aging process universally entails increased inflammation by evaluating cytokine levels in older Tsimane adults:

“To see if they develop inflammaging, we measured a collection of cytokines in a sample of older Tsimane adults to see if they increase with age; we found minimal increases with age.” - Jacob Aronoff

Comparative Analysis

In contrast, the Moseten community has experienced significant cultural changes due to external influences over the past 300 years, including the introduction of running water, electricity, and indoor plumbing. Despite genetic similarities to the Tsimane, the Moseten demonstrated pronounced levels of inflammaging.

Community Inflammation Levels Environmental Influences
Tsimane Minimal Traditional hunter-farmer lifestyle
Moseten Increased Moderately industrialized lifestyle

Implications of Lifestyle Factors

The findings suggest that inflammation linked to aging is significantly influenced by lifestyle and environmental conditions rather than being an inevitable consequence of aging:

  • Traditional Lifestyles vs. Industrialization: Traditional lifestyles, characterized by physical activity and low exposure to modern stressors, are associated with lower inflammation levels.
  • Modernization Effects: Exposure to industrialized environments correlates with higher inflammation levels, likely intensifying associated health risks.
  • Potential Benefits of Parasitic Exposure: The Tsimane's regular exposure to parasites may offer insights into reduced age-related inflammation, suggesting that certain immune responses might be beneficial.

As Benjamin Trumble, senior author of the study, states:

“By working with populations that are living a more traditional lifestyle, we can get a better idea of what the baseline for human health is.”

Future Research Directions

Given these findings, further research is warranted to disentangle the various influences on inflammation:

  • Investigating the impact of diets on inflammation and overall health.
  • Studying how infectious exposures in traditional populations can inform modern health strategies.
  • Exploring potential biomedical innovations that mimic beneficial aspects of ancestral immune responses for contemporary application.

Ultimately, while the study sheds light on the complexities of inflammation and aging, it also emphasizes the interplay between lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and genetic predispositions.

Conclusions

This groundbreaking research challenges the prevailing understanding of aging and inflammation, indicating that chronic inflammation is not a universal aspect of aging but rather a product of lifestyle and environmental factors. The results may have significant implications for public health, suggesting that lifestyle modifications and a return to more traditional methods of living could mitigate age-related inflammation.

References

Jacob E. Aronoff et al, Inflammaging is minimal among forager-horticulturalists in the Bolivian Amazon, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2025). Source.