Gut microbial-induced inflammation: normal aging or lifestyle changes?

Driven by an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory networks, the inflammaging phenotype is a state of low-grade chronic inflammation. It has been hypothesized but not confirmed that aged-related tissue ‘wear and tear’ elevates levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Enter the forgotten organ, the gut microbiome, and recent reports of correlations between gut microbial composition and circulating levels of cytokines in nursing home elderly.