What is the Origin of Inflammation Burden Assessment?

This concept merges clinical immunology and longevity medicine, focusing on the deleterious effects of persistent inflammatory signaling. The term burden highlights the cumulative, detrimental impact of sustained inflammatory processes on systemic health. This clinical approach shifts the focus from acute disease to preventative and personalized wellness.

What is the Mechanism of Inflammation Burden Assessment?

The assessment typically measures acute-phase reactants like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and various pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Elevated levels of these markers indicate chronic activation of the innate immune system. This sustained inflammatory state disrupts the sensitivity of hormone receptors and can directly impair the function of endocrine glands, notably affecting insulin, cortisol, and sex steroid signaling.

Inflammation Burden Assessment ∞ Area

Inflammation Burden Assessment

Meaning

Inflammation burden assessment is the systematic evaluation of the total physiological load of chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation within an individual, often without overt clinical symptoms. This assessment utilizes a panel of specific biochemical markers to quantify the degree of immune system activation and tissue damage. Quantifying this burden is critical because chronic inflammation is a key driver of hormonal dysfunction, metabolic disease, and accelerated aging.