New study explains the causes of chronic inflammation during aging

During the experiments, the researchers compared the condition of the adipose tissue in young and aged mice. It was found that in an aging body, the adipose tissue loses its ability to create new healthy cells. Instead of normal tissue renewal, inflammation and fibrosis processes begin to predominate, which is the replacement of functional cells with connective tissue or scars. This process prevents the body from properly distributing energy and maintaining normal blood sugar levels, leading to age-related metabolic diseases.

To prove the impact of altered antibodies on aging, the scientists temporarily removed them from the experimental animals. This led to the restoration of the fat tissue’s functions and the initiation of the process of creating new cells. However, when the fucose-modified antibodies were returned to the body, inflammation and tissue scarring resumed with greater intensity. This confirmed that the structure of the “aged” antibodies was the primary driver of the degradation of the fat layer.

This discovery holds significant implications for longevity medicine. Understanding how the immune system blocks tissue regeneration allows for the development of medications that can specifically target and remove harmful protein modifications from the blood. In the long run, this could help older people maintain a healthy metabolism and prevent the development of diabetes and other age-related diseases. Scientists are continuing to work on finding ways to control the structure of antibodies in order to slow down the process of biological aging in human tissues.