Gossip Guuurl is a very connected cell (think the cellular version of Gossip Girl). She knows all the right cells and is always up on the neighborhood gossip. She was the first to hear when the muscle cell learned his sugar stores were low, so she made sure to communicate that fact to her entire gaggle of friends. She has developed an impressive communication system to keep herself and other cells always in the know.
Then, one day, she noticed some background noise when she got on the comm. It was initially mild and inconsistent, but over time the noise and static got so loud that she could not communicate with her friends at all. She never got the message when the immune cells told her that a dangerous infection was coming her way, and she misheard when the pancreas cell told her to conserve her energy. In the end, our Gossip Guuurl not only lost the throne as the most in-the-know cell on the block, but she also stopped being able to function completely.
What is happening inside my body?
Altered intercellular communication is a hallmark of aging that affects cells’ ability to communicate with other cells. The most significant contributor to this interrupted communication is inflammation, which acts as “background static” and incites mayhem, as cells no longer understand what they should be doing.
Inflammation is such a significant catalyst of aging that there’s now a term to combine the two words: “inflammaging.” The endocrine system, responsible for making essential hormones, and the immune system, responsible for fighting infections, are two of the major systems affected by inflammaging and altered intercellular communication.
Why this matters to you
Chronic inflammation is thought to be a major cause of altered intercellular communication. Strategies to combat inflammation include exercising daily, eating low inflammatory foods (ex: lots of veggies, healthy fats and minimal sugar), reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy body weight.
How HOP Box Helps: When it comes to improving intercellular communication, reducing inflammation is crucial. Astaxanthin, curcumin, and quercetin are excellent at reducing inflammation (“background noise”), so Gossip Guuurl can keep talking to ALL the cool cells.
Learn about the other Downfalls of Aging
Telomere Attrition
Genomic Instability
Epigenetic Alteration
Loss of Proteostasis
Cellular Senescence
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Deregulated Nutrient Sensing
Altered Intercellular Communication
