In this episode of Longevity Roadmap, Buck Joffrey explores the emerging concept of inflammaging—the chronic, low-grade inflammation that rises with age and may drive many major diseases. Drawing from recent medical literature, he breaks down how inflammation works, why it becomes harmful over time, and how it intersects with heart disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders.

Key Points:

Chronic inflammation rises steadily with age and appears to underlie many major ageing-related diseases. Biological processes such as immune decline, senescent cells, gut changes, and oxidative stress all feed into this inflammatory loop. Understanding and managing inflammation may be a key strategy in extending healthspan and reducing disease risk in later life.

• What Inflammation Really Is: Buck explains the difference between acute inflammation—the quick, helpful response to injury—and chronic inflammation, a long-lasting immune overreaction that quietly damages tissues and increases disease risk.
• Immune Aging & Senescent “Zombie” Cells: As the immune system weakens with age (immunosenescence), it becomes both less effective and more reactive. Senescent cells accumulate, fail to die when they should, and release inflammatory chemicals that accelerate ageing and disease.
• Gut Microbiome, Leaky Gut & Systemic Stress: Age-related changes in gut bacteria can harm the intestinal barrier, allowing toxins into the bloodstream and triggering persistent inflammation. Increased oxidative stress and epigenetic damage further worsen the inflammatory burden.
• Inflammation as a Driver of Major Diseases: Buck highlights evidence linking chronic inflammation to cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 2 diabetes. He explains how inflammation destabilises arterial plaques, promotes tumor growth, fuels neuroinflammation, and interferes with insulin signalling.
• Biomarkers & Interventions: Markers like hs-CRP help measure chronic inflammation and predict disease risk. Buck notes that anti-inflammatory strategies—including lifestyle change, statins, and emerging drugs like low-dose colchicine—may lower risk, though he stresses this is not personal medical advice.