Research

Mixed

Higher serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are significantly associated with increased mortality risk and poorer physical and cognitive performance in elderly individuals, including those classified as 'successfully aging'.

Monitor inflammatory markers like IL-6 and CRP as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. While these are predictive, they reflect underlying 'inflammaging.' Focus on modifiable drivers of inflammation such as maintaining a healthy weight (avoiding both underweight and obesity), managing cardiovascular risk factors, and ensuring adequate nutrition, as these are linked to lower inflammatory burden and better functional outcomes in aging.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Longer survival was associated with lower concentrations of IL-6 and CRP not only in individuals with aging-related diseases/disability... but also in the successfully aging subgroup... Higher IL-6 and CRP levels were associated with poorer physical performance (lower ADL score) and poorer cognitive performance (lower MMSE score)
Monika Puzianowska‐Kuźnicka et al. · Immunity & Ageing · 2016

Why this rating

Large sample size (n>3000), longitudinal follow-up, and statistically significant hazard ratios after adjusting for confounders.

Source

Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, successful aging, and mortality: the PolSenior study

Monika Puzianowska‐Kuźnicka et al. · Immunity & Ageing · 2016

DOI 10.1186/s12979-016-0076-x

cohort · n=4979Cited 438×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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