Can Inflammation Speed Up Ageing? What Biohackers Need to Know
Have you ever wondered why your body feels puffy, fatigued, or slow to heal—despite eating well or exercising? Could chronic inflammation be silently undermining your anti-aging efforts?
Inflammation isn’t always visible, but it’s a central player in how fast you age and how well you feel. In this article, we explore how inflammation works, its link to chronic disease and ageing, and how you can reduce it using proven biohacking strategies.
TL;DR: Inflammation and Ageing
Chronic, low-grade inflammation accelerates ageing and contributes to degenerative diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. Acute inflammation heals, but chronic inflammation damages tissues via pathways like NF-κB. This article explores how to calm inflammation using lifestyle changes and powerful anti-inflammatory compounds like liposomal curcumin, which offers up to 40x greater bioavailability than standard curcumin.
Table of Contents
Science Snapshot
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Inflammation is your immune system’s response to injury, toxins, or pathogens.
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Acute inflammation is temporary and healing; chronic inflammation damages tissues and accelerates ageing.
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The NF-κB pathway is a central driver of chronic inflammation, switching on pro-inflammatory genes.
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Liposomal curcumin is up to 40 times more bioavailable than standard curcumin and inhibits NF-κB signalling.
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Supplementing with omega-3s, berberine, and polyphenols supports anti-aging and immune modulation.
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Biohacking tools like fasting, exercise, and antioxidant-rich diets reduce systemic inflammation.
What Is Inflammation and Why It Matters for Longevity
Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to injury or infection. It’s essential for wound healing and recovery. But when inflammation doesn’t switch off, it becomes harmful—damaging tissues and accelerating ageing.
Biohacking targets inflammation not as a symptom, but as a cause of dysfunction at the cellular level. Intervening early with the right inputs (nutrients, movement, and detox pathways) can dramatically extend healthspan.
The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Inflammation
Acute Inflammation: Short-Term Defence
Acute inflammation is a healing response triggered by injury, pathogens, or toxins. It involves:
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Plasma and white blood cells flooding the area
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Redness, swelling, and heat as immune activity increases
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Resolution once the threat is cleared
Chronic Inflammation: Persistent and Damaging
Chronic inflammation is subtle and sustained. The immune system continues to produce pro-inflammatory signals like cytokines and oxidative radicals, even without an infection.
Over time, this contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction, tissue degradation, and premature cellular ageing.
How Chronic Inflammation Accelerates Ageing
Low-grade inflammation—called inflammaging—is one of the key drivers of age-related decline. It amplifies other hallmarks of ageing like:
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Genomic instability
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Stem cell exhaustion
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Cellular senescence
Triggers include:
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Refined sugar and insulin resistance
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Air pollution and toxins
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Visceral fat and inactivity
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Chronic stress and poor sleep
Left unaddressed, chronic inflammation drives the onset of age-related diseases.
Understanding the NF-κB Pathway
What Is the NF-κB Pathway?
The NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) pathway is one of the most important molecular switches involved in inflammation. It acts like a master controller—activating genes that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6.
When overactivated, the NF-κB pathway keeps the body in a constant state of immune alert. This is linked to:
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Cancer initiation
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Heart disease
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Neuroinflammation
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Accelerated biological ageing
Liposomal Curcumin vs. Regular Curcumin
Curcumin is a polyphenol from turmeric with potent NF-κB–inhibiting properties. However, regular curcumin has poor bioavailability and is rapidly broken down by the liver.
Liposomal curcumin, on the other hand, uses phospholipid encapsulation to protect the compound and enhance absorption.
Why it matters:
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Liposomal delivery can make curcumin up to 40x more bioavailable
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It crosses cell membranes more effectively
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Reduces NF-κB activation at lower doses
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Works synergistically with quercetin and Bioperine (black pepper extract)
This makes it one of the most powerful natural biohacking tools for inflammation control.
Common Inflammatory Diseases Linked to Ageing
Cardiovascular Disease
Chronic inflammation—measured by high CRP (C-reactive protein)—can damage blood vessels and oxidise LDL (low-density lipoprotein). This inflamed LDL becomes sticky and penetrates arterial walls, leading to plaque buildup and atherosclerosis.
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Fat tissue—especially abdominal fat—produces pro-inflammatory molecules that disrupt insulin signalling. This vicious cycle of blood sugar spikes and immune activation accelerates organ damage, including the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
Biohacking Strategies for Longevity and Inflammation Control
1. Nutrition and Whole Foods
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Eat leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, oily fish, turmeric, and berries.
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Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbs, and processed oils.
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Eat whole fruit instead of juice to regulate blood glucose and insulin.
2. Targeted Supplementation
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Releaf (berberine): Supports AMPK activation and glucose balance.
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Liposomal Curcmin: a powerful anti-inflammatory Curcumin for reducing inflammation in the body
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Preservage: Combines resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, and Bioperine to modulate NF-κB and activate sirtuins.
3. Exercise and Movement
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Moderate-intensity cardio (45 minutes, 3–4x/week)
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Resistance training (20–30 minutes, 2–3x/week)
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Movement improves mitochondrial resilience and downregulates inflammatory pathways.
4. Reduce Environmental Triggers
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Avoid traffic pollution and secondhand smoke.
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Use air purifiers in urban settings.
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Minimise exposure to synthetic chemicals and processed food additives.
Conclusion & Anti-Inflammation Checklist
Inflammation is both friend and foe. It protects us from pathogens but, when unchecked, it becomes a hidden saboteur of longevity.
By biohacking your inflammatory load—especially targeting the NF-κB pathway—you can reclaim energy, reduce disease risk, and support graceful ageing.
Anti-Inflammation Checklist
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Eat anti-inflammatory foods daily
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Replace standard curcumin with liposomal formulations
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Supplement with polyphenols and omega-3s
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Exercise regularly to reduce cytokines
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Reduce sugar and processed food intake
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Avoid environmental toxins and air pollution
FAQs
What is the NF-κB pathway and why is it important?
The NF-κB pathway is a genetic switch that activates inflammation. Overactivation leads to chronic disease and accelerated ageing. Inhibiting it is a core biohacking strategy.
How does liposomal curcumin compare to standard curcumin?
Liposomal curcumin is up to 40x more bioavailable and can more effectively inhibit inflammation-related gene activity, including NF-κB.
Can inflammation really speed up ageing?
Yes. Chronic inflammation drives cellular stress, tissue breakdown, and mitochondrial dysfunction—all of which accelerate ageing.
What supplements reduce inflammation best?
Top options include omega-3s, berberine, liposomal curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, and glutathione.
Is CRP a reliable test for inflammation?
Yes. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common blood test used to detect ongoing systemic inflammation.
Glossary
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NF-κB: A protein complex that controls inflammation-related gene expression.
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Liposomal Curcumin: A fat-encapsulated form of curcumin that dramatically improves absorption.
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CRP: A marker of inflammation found in the blood.
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Cytokines: Signalling proteins like IL-6 and TNF-α involved in inflammation.
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Sirtuins: Longevity-related proteins that regulate inflammation and DNA repair.
About the Author
Ed Van Harmelen is the founder of Youth & Earth and a passionate advocate for biohacking and anti-aging since 2017. He has been featured in numerous podcasts and wellness publications for his insights on longevity, biohacking, and the science behind supplements. Ed is widely regarded as a pioneer in bringing cutting-edge anti-aging tools to everyday consumers, making the benefits of advanced biohacking science both accessible and actionable. He is also the founder of optimallyme.com, a leading B2B health optimisation platform, and V14, an all-in-one longevity supplement.
Last Updated: Friday, August 1, 2025, 03:12 PM BST
