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Comparative Study
. 2008 Feb;63(2):196-9.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/63.2.196.

Aging and inflammation in two epidemiological worlds

Michael Gurven  1 , Hillard Kaplan, Jeffrey Winking, Caleb Finch, Eileen M Crimmins
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Aging and inflammation in two epidemiological worlds

Michael Gurven et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 Feb.

Abstract

Humans evolved in a world with high levels of infection resulting in high mortality across the life span and few survivors to advanced ages. Under such conditions, a strong acute-phase inflammatory response was required for survival; however, inflammatory responses can also promote chronic diseases of aging. We hypothesize that global historical increases in life span at older ages are partly explained by reduced lifetime exposure to infection and subsequent inflammation. To begin a test of this hypothesis, we compare C-reactive protein (CRP); levels in two populations with different epidemiological environments: the Tsimane of Bolivia and persons in the United States. High CRP is significantly more prevalent among the Tsimane up through middle age; by age 35, the Tsimane have spent more years with high CRP than have Americans at age 55. Further testing of the links among infection, inflammation, and chronic diseases of aging among the Tsimane requires collection of age-specific indicators of atherosclerosis and cardiac function.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Probability of dying among Tsimane (1950–1989), Swedes (1843), and Americans (2001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of high-risk C-reactive protein (CRP) (>3 mg/L) in Tsimane and Americans.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Years lived with high C-reactive protein (CRP) for those who survive to a specified age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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