Aging Reimagined: How Microscopic Stress Signals Might Hold the Power to Keep Us Young
This paper explains that tiny amounts of “stress signals” in our bodies — specifically low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and low levels of pro‑inflammatory cytokines — actually help keep us healthy as we age. Even though high levels of these molecules can cause damage, disease, and inflammation, very small amounts act like early warning signals that help our cells stay balanced and respond to small changes in the environment. The authors argue that these low‑level signals help maintain adaptive homeostasis, which is the body’s ability to adjust and stay stable. By keeping ROS and cytokines at balanced, low levels, the body can slow or prevent “inflammaging” (the chronic inflammation that increases with age) and avoid the early decline that leads to age‑related diseases. In short, the paper suggests that not all stress signals are bad — in tiny amounts, they actually help the body stay resilient and healthier for longer.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S053155652200376X
