Have you ever noticed that your body seems to take a little longer to bounce back than it used to? Maybe your knees feel stiffer in the morning, a sore back lingers for days, or your skin feels drier than it once did. Most of us put these changes down to "just getting older".
But scientists have been looking more closely at what's happening behind the scenes. One idea getting a lot of attention is called inflammageing (sometimes spelt inflammaging). It's a mouthful, but the idea behind it is surprisingly simple, and the latest research brings some genuinely good news.
In this blog, we explain what inflammageing is, how inflammation and ageing are linked, and why many experts now believe this process isn't an unavoidable part of getting older. We'll also share simple, everyday ways to support your body so you can keep feeling your best at every age.
Inflammation 101: the helpful kind and the lingering kind
Before we get to inflammageing, it helps to understand inflammation itself, because it often gets a bad name.
Inflammation is your body's natural defence system. When you cut your finger, roll an ankle or catch a cold, your immune system sends in help to fight germs and start repairs. The redness, warmth and swelling you notice are signs that your body is doing its job.
There are generally two types that are talked about:
-
Short-term (acute) inflammation: switches on quickly when you need it, then switches off once the job is done. It's protective and essential for healing.
-
Long-term (chronic) inflammation: is lower-level and lingers in the background, even when there's no clear injury or infection to deal with. Over time, this is the kind that can wear on the body.
In other words, inflammation itself isn't the enemy. The challenge comes when it doesn't switch off properly.
So, what is inflammageing?
Inflammageing is a blend of two words: inflammation and ageing. Italian scientists first used the term in 2000 to describe a pattern they noticed in older people: a slow, low-level inflammation throughout the body that tends to rise as we get older.
Think of it like a dimmer switch that's been left on low. It isn't dramatic, and you might not notice it day to day. But researchers believe that, over many years, this background inflammation may gradually wear on cells, tissues and organs, and it has been linked with many common conditions of later life, such as heart disease and joint problems.
Research describes inflammageing as a kind of cycle, where ageing and inflammation feed into each other:
-
The immune system changes with age: It can become less finely tuned, which scientists call immunosenescence.
-
Inflammation becomes harder to switch off: A less well-regulated immune system may let inflammation linger.
-
Lingering inflammation adds wear and tear: This can affect cells and tissues, which in turn may keep the cycle going.
Other factors can join in too, such as worn-out "retired" cells that send out inflammatory signals, and oxidative stress, a type of everyday wear on our cells. It sounds complicated, but the big idea is simple: when inflammation lingers, it may speed up some of the changes we associate with getting older.
The good news: inflammageing isn't set in stone
For a long time, rising inflammation was seen as just part of getting older. But new research is changing that view, and it's great news.
Research suggests that chronic inflammation isn't a "normal" part of ageing for everyone, and that it doesn't have to lead to the health problems we often link with getting older. Here's why.
Inflammageing isn't the same everywhere
Most research on inflammation and ageing has been done in wealthy, modern countries like Australia, the US and parts of Europe. In these places, inflammation tends to rise as people get older.
But when researchers have studied communities with very different, more traditional ways of life, they found something surprising. In several of these communities, inflammation didn't rise with age, and it wasn't linked to age-related health problems.
This suggests that inflammageing may be shaped largely by modern lifestyles, rather than by ageing itself.
Healthy ageing starts earlier than you think
We often think of ageing as something that starts around 50. But research suggests the way our bodies manage inflammation is shaped from early in life, by things like nutrition, everyday germs and stress.
The takeaway? Supporting your body is a lifelong habit, and it's never too early, or too late, to start.
Inflammation isn't the enemy
Remember, inflammation is a natural and helpful part of staying healthy. The aim isn't to stop it altogether. It's to help your body keep it in balance, so it switches on when it's needed and off again when the job is done.
What this means for you
Research is still emerging and understanding which factors matter most. But if inflammageing is shaped by how we live, then everyday choices, like what we eat, how we move, how we sleep and how we manage stress, may help support healthier ageing. And those are things we can all influence.
How inflammageing may show up in everyday life
Inflammageing happens quietly, so there's no single sign to look out for. But researchers believe it may play a part in some of the changes many of us notice as we get older, such as:
-
Stiffer joints and muscles, especially first thing in the morning.
-
Slower recovery after exercise, gardening or a busy day.
-
Skin changes, such as dryness, thinning and slower repair.
Skin is a particularly interesting example. It's our largest organ and our first line of defence against the outside world. As we age, the skin's protective barrier tends to weaken, which can leave it more prone to irritation. Some scientists believe a weaker skin barrier may even add to the body's overall inflammation, which is one more reason to look after your skin as you age.
Of course, these changes can have many causes. If something is bothering you, it's always worth chatting with your GP.
Everyday ways to support your body as you age
We can't stop the clock, but research suggests that many everyday habits may help keep inflammation in balance. The best part? None of them require anything fancy.
-
Eat a colourful, plant-rich diet: Vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds help feed the friendly bacteria in your gut. A more diverse gut is linked with a better-balanced immune system, and gut diversity tends to drop as we age, so variety really counts.
-
Keep moving: Regular activity, from walking to swimming to strength exercises, is one of the most powerful ways to support healthy ageing. If everyday aches are getting in the way, Kunzea Pain Relief Cream provides temporary relief from muscular aches and pains, helping you stay active.
-
Prioritise sleep: Poor sleep has been linked with higher inflammation. A calming evening routine can help you wind down. Try the Sleep Support Roll On before bed to enjoy a restful sleep.
-
Find ways to unwind: Ongoing stress can affect the immune system. Time outdoors, catching up with friends, deep breathing or a slow, relaxing massage can all help you switch off.
-
Look after your skin: Use sun protection and keep your skin moisturised to support its natural barrier.
-
Limit smoking and alcohol: Both are linked with higher levels of inflammation, so cutting back is a great gift to your future self.
Small, consistent steps add up. You don't need to change everything at once. Pick one or two habits that feel achievable and build from there.
The bottom line
Inflammageing describes the slow, low-level inflammation that can build up as we age, and it may play a part in many of the changes we feel over time. But the latest science brings real hope. Rising inflammation doesn't appear to be a fixed part of getting older, and our environment and daily habits may make a meaningful difference.
So be kind to your body, keep moving, enjoy colourful food and make time to rest. Ageing well is a lifelong journey, and every small step counts.
References
- Agrawal, R., Hu, A., & Bollag, W. B. (2023). The skin and inflamm-aging. Biology, 12(11), Article 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111396
- Calder, P. C., Bosco, N., Bourdet-Sicard, R., Capuron, L., Delzenne, N., Doré, J., Franceschi, C., Lehtinen, M. J., Recker, T., Salvioli, S., & Visioli, F. (2017). Health relevance of the modification of low grade inflammation in ageing (inflammageing) and the role of nutrition. Ageing Research Reviews, 40, 95–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2017.09.001
- Franceschi, C., Bonafè, M., Valensin, S., Olivieri, F., De Luca, M., Ottaviani, E., & De Benedictis, G. (2000). Inflamm-aging: An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 908(1), 244–254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06651.x
- Franck, M., Tanner, K. T., Tennyson, R. L., Daunizeau, C., Ferrucci, L., Bandinelli, S., Trumble, B. C., Kaplan, H. S., Aronoff, J. E., Stieglitz, J., Kraft, T. S., Lea, A. J., Venkataraman, V. V., Wallace, I. J., Lim, Y. A. L., Ng, K. S., Yeong, J. P. S., Ho, R., Lim, X., . . . Cohen, A. A. (2025). Nonuniversality of inflammaging across human populations. Nature Aging, 5(8), 1471–1480. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00888-0
- Furman, D., Campisi, J., Verdin, E., Carrera-Bastos, P., Targ, S., Franceschi, C., Ferrucci, L., Gilroy, D. W., Fasano, A., Miller, G. W., Miller, A. H., Mantovani, A., Weyand, C. M., Barzilai, N., Goronzy, J. J., Rando, T. A., Effros, R. B., Lucia, A., Kleinstreuer, N., & Slavich, G. M. (2019). Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nature Medicine, 25(12), 1822–1832. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0
- McDade, T. W. (2023). Three common assumptions about inflammation, aging, and health that are probably wrong. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(51), Article e2317232120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2317232120
- Pająk, J., Nowicka, D., & Szepietowski, J. C. (2023). Inflammaging and immunosenescence as part of skin aging—A narrative review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(9), Article 7784. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097784
