Lemur Study Offers Insights into Inflammaging in Humans

Duke University biological anthropologist Elaine Guevara has been investigating the relationship between inflammation and aging—referred to as inflammaging—by studying ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs. These two lemur species, while sharing many similarities, differ in their life pacing and lifespan, making them valuable for comparative research. Since lemurs and humans are both primates with a shared evolutionary history, findings from lemur studies may offer important perspectives on human aging.

Guevara’s recent research, published in the Journal of Comparative Physiology, produced unexpected results. She noted, “Contrary to our predictions, neither species showed age-related change in either marker of oxidative stress. Neither lemur species exhibited age-related change in inflammation; if anything, contrary to our prediction, ring-tailed lemurs showed marginal declines in inflammation with age.” This observation aligns with a handful of studies in other non-human primates, suggesting that the phenomenon of inflammaging, commonly seen in humans, may not be universal among primates.

Christine Drea, a professor of evolutionary anthropology and collaborator on the project, emphasized that inflammaging may not even be a universal feature in humans. The study challenges the assumption that chronic, low-grade inflammation is an inevitable part of aging for all primates.

Inflammaging is described as a gradual increase in chronic inflammation with age, contributing to conditions like heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Understanding why inflammaging occurs in humans, what triggers it, and how it might be prevented could provide crucial insights for improving human health in later years.

Guevara considers this work a first step toward addressing why humans experience inflammatory and age-related diseases and how they might be treated.