Inflammaging, the Immune System, and the Hidden Biology of Aging — A Conversation with Alan Landay, Ph.D.
Decoding LongevityShow Notes
In this episode of Decoding Longevity, host Raghav Sehgal and co-host Macsue Jacques explore one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — drivers of aging: the immune system. Joined by immunologist Alan Landay, the conversation uncovers how chronic inflammation — often described as inflammaging — shapes biological aging at the cellular level. Drawing on decades of HIV research, Dr. Landay explains how persistent immune activation, gut barrier dysfunction, and microbiome imbalance contribute to age-related diseases long before symptoms appear.
The episode dives into: • Why aging is a biological process — not just the passage of time • How immune dysregulation accelerates cardiovascular and metabolic disease • The role of gut health and microbial metabolites in systemic inflammation • Biological aging clocks and emerging biomarkers • Promising interventions — from lifestyle strategies to immune-targeted therapies This conversation reframes aging as an immune-driven process and highlights how understanding inflammation may be key to extending healthspan.
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