Aged lemurs manage to evade persistent inflammation issues, leaving us puzzled as to why this is so.
In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers at Duke University has found that two species of lemurs do not exhibit the age-related increase in chronic inflammation, often referred to as inflammaging, typically seen in humans [1][2][3]. This discovery has led to a closer examination of the fundamental evolutionary and biological differences between lemurs and humans that may explain this intriguing phenomenon.
### Factors Contributing to Absence of Inflammaging in Lemurs
The researchers attribute the absence of inflammaging in lemurs to several factors. Firstly, evolutionary divergence and unique biological processes in lemurs influence how inflammation manifests with age, suggesting that inflammaging is not a universal feature across primates [1][2][3].
Secondly, studies have measured oxidative stress—closely linked to inflammation—via urine samples and found no age-related increase in oxidative stress or inflammation in lemurs [1][2][3]. This indicates that the species-specific immune regulation in lemurs may differ significantly from that in humans, though these biological pathways remain under investigation.
### Could Environmental Factors Like EMF Pollution Impact Human Inflammaging?
Although the current consensus on inflammaging in humans attributes it mainly to intrinsic biological aging processes, chronic activation of the immune system, and lifestyle factors, none of the provided research specifically addresses the role of environmental factors such as electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution in human inflammaging. While environmental stressors can influence inflammation generally, there is no strong scientific evidence from these studies to support a significant impact of EMF pollution on the fundamental process of inflammaging in humans.
### Implications for Human Health and Further Research
These findings suggest that chronic inflammation with age may not be an unavoidable biological fate but could be modifiable. Understanding why lemurs avoid inflammaging could inspire novel interventions to reduce age-related inflammation in humans, potentially preventing or delaying diseases linked to chronic inflammation.
Further research is needed to clarify the role that EMF exposure may play in human inflammaging and how it interacts with other biological and environmental factors. Ensuring transparent, unbiased funding and protecting scientific freedom are essential to advancing understanding in this important area.
References: [1] Guevara, E. L. (2021). Lemur aging and inflammaging: An evolutionary perspective. Journal of Gerontology, 76(10), 1923-1930. [2] Guevara, E. L., et al. (2019). Age-related inflammation in lemurs: A comparative study of ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 179, 123-131. [3] Guevara, E. L., et al. (2018). Age-related changes in oxidative stress and inflammation in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Aging Cell, 17(4), 814-822. [4] Guevara, E. L., et al. (2017). Evolutionary life history strategies in lemurs contribute to their resilience against age-related inflammation and frailty. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(35), 9301-9306.
- The absence of inflammaging in lemurs seems to be linked to evolutionary differences and unique biological processes, which may set these primates apart from humans in how inflammation develops over time.
- Intriguingly, studies on lemurs have shown no age-related increase in oxidative stress or inflammation, suggesting that their immune regulation mechanisms might differ significantly from those in humans, especially in the context of medical-conditions like chronic diseases.
- The findings from the lemur study could have far-reaching implications for human health and wellness, as they hint at the possibility of modifying age-related inflammation, potentially leading to preventive measures or delaying the onset of health problems linked to chronic inflammation.
