However, with age, control over the release of inflammatory molecules or their cleanup can deteriorate, leading to chronic inflammation- or 'inflammaging'- despite a lack of injury or invaders.

There are several hypothesized drivers of chronic inflammation that are under investigation by longevity researchers. Some of these include accumulated damages, secretions from senescent cells, and the dysregulated activity of leukocytes (white blood cells). As with many of the age-related factors under study by researchers, inflammaging may contribute to or be exacerbated by other features of reproductive aging.