Chiropractic Rehabilitation Approach For Systemic Inflammation

Discover chiropractic rehabilitation techniques for systemic inflammation to alleviate pain and restore wellness effectively.

Abstract

Systemic inflammation, a state where the body’s immune response becomes chronically activated, is increasingly recognized as a foundational pillar of nearly every major chronic disease of our time. This persistent, low-grade inflammatory state, often termed “inflammaging,” is driven by immune cells, particularly macrophages, that become locked in a pro-inflammatory (M1) state. This continuous assault floods the body with inflammatory molecules like TNF-alpha and IL-6, which have been identified as significant predictors of all-cause mortality, comparable to well-known risk factors like smoking. This educational post will explore the profound impact of systemic inflammation on various organ systems, including the brain, where it fuels neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia. We will explore the underlying immunological mechanisms, such as disrupted macrophage function and failed thymic signaling, which can lead to immune misdirection and the development of so-called “autoimmune” conditions. This article will also discuss how our multidisciplinary practice at Injury Medical Clinic PA integrates cutting-edge functional medicine principles, advanced diagnostics, and personalized therapeutic protocols, including chiropractic care, to address the upstream causes of this dysregulation. By restoring immune balance and shifting the body from destruction to repair, we offer a comprehensive strategy to address the root cause of multiple chronic conditions while optimizing long-term health and vitality.

A Message from Dr. Alex Jimenez

Hello, and welcome. I am Dr. Alex Jimenez. With my diverse background as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), and a certified practitioner in Functional Medicine (CFMP, IFMCP), among other specializations, I have dedicated my career to understanding the intricate web of human health. My passion lies in synthesizing the latest scientific findings with a holistic, patient-centered approach to care.

At our practice, Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas, we have cultivated a unique, multidisciplinary environment. I am honored to work alongside Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD, a highly respected internist with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Cardenas serves as our Medical Director and Collaborative Physician, providing invaluable medical oversight and clinical wisdom that enriches our patient care. This collaborative model, where a Doctor of Chiropractic like myself works in tandem with a board-certified Medical Doctor, allows us to bridge the gap between different healthcare philosophies. Our team integrates chiropractic care, functional medicine, rehabilitation, and conventional medical expertise to provide a truly comprehensive treatment paradigm. We don’t just treat symptoms; we investigate the “why” behind your health concerns to restore function and vitality from the ground up.

Today, I want to guide you through a concept that is revolutionizing our understanding of chronic illness: systemic inflammation. This isn’t just another health buzzword. It is a fundamental biological process that, when dysregulated, becomes the common soil from which nearly every chronic disease grows. We will explore the work of leading researchers who are using modern, evidence-based methods to illuminate this connection and discuss how we can intervene to restore balance and reclaim our health. This is not about managing a collection of separate diseases; it’s about fixing one dysregulated biology.

The Silent Fire Within: Defining Systemic Inflammation

When we think of inflammation, most of us picture something acute and localized—the redness, swelling, and pain of a sprained ankle or a cut finger. This is the body’s essential, life-saving response to injury or infection. Specialized immune cells rush to the scene, neutralize the threat, clear away damaged tissue, and then, crucially, they turn off and initiate a repair process. The fire is put out, and the rebuilding begins.

But what happens when that “off” switch fails? What if the fire never completely goes out, but instead smolders continuously in the background, throughout your entire body? This is the essence of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. It’s a state where the immune system, designed for short, powerful bursts of activity, becomes permanently stuck in “on” mode.

The primary architects of this ongoing state of alarm are some of our most important innate immune cells: the macrophages. These cells are the body’s frontline defenders and cleanup crew. In a healthy immune cycle, they are incredibly versatile, able to shift their function based on signals from their environment. However, in systemic inflammation, they lose this flexibility. They become locked in a pro-inflammatory phenotype, constantly churning out a cocktail of powerful chemical messengers known as cytokines.

The Inflammatory Messengers: TNF-alpha and IL-6

Two of the most significant cytokines in this process are Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6).

• TNF-alpha: Originally named for its ability to cause necrosis (death) in tumors, this cytokine is a master regulator of inflammation. In an acute setting, it’s vital for signaling other immune cells to a site of infection. But when chronically elevated, it drives tissue damage, insulin resistance, and cellular dysfunction across the body.
• IL-6: This is another powerful pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in the acute phase response. Chronically, it contributes to a wide range of conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to metabolic syndrome and even depression.

For decades, we’ve known these molecules were involved in disease. But the gravity of their impact has only recently been quantified with stunning clarity. A landmark 2022 study published in The Lancet analyzed data from a massive cohort. It delivered a sobering conclusion: elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha are independent predictors of all-cause mortality (The Lancet, 2022). The hazard ratios—a statistical measure of how much an exposure increases the risk of a particular outcome—were found to be comparable to those associated with smoking.

Let that sink in for a moment. The silent, invisible presence of these inflammatory molecules in your bloodstream can be as dangerous to your long-term survival as a daily smoking habit. This isn’t a minor issue; it is a central threat to our health and longevity. Systemic inflammation isn’t just a symptom; it’s an active process of biological self-destruction, happening slowly and silently in every tissue of your body.

The Two Faces of the Macrophage: M1 vs. M2 Polarization

To truly grasp how systemic inflammation takes hold, we need to dive a little deeper into the fascinating world of macrophages. As I mentioned, these cells are not static; they exist on a functional spectrum. Think of them as having two primary “personalities” or activation states, which immunologists refer to as M1 and M2 polarization.

The M1 Macrophage: “Burn It All Down” Mode

The M1 macrophage is the pro-inflammatory warrior. When your body detects a threat, like a bacterium or a virus, macrophages are signaled to shift into this M1 state. Their job is to create a hostile environment to kill invaders. They do this by producing a potent arsenal of inflammatory substances:

• Pro-inflammatory Cytokines: TNF-alpha, IL-6, and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1?) are released to amplify the alarm, recruit more immune cells, and orchestrate the attack.
• Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): These are highly reactive molecules, also known as free radicals, that can damage and destroy pathogens through oxidative stress. Think of it as a form of “chemical warfare” at the cellular level.

The M1 response is essential for survival. Without it, a simple infection could become lethal. The guiding principle of the M1 macrophage is aggressive, destructive, and effective: “Burn it all down.” It’s a scorched-earth policy designed to eliminate the threat at all costs.

The M2 Macrophage: “Clean It All Up” Mode

Once the threat has been neutralized, the mission changes. The inflammatory storm needs to subside, and the damage needs to be repaired. This is where the M2 macrophage comes in. Through a complex set of signaling cues, macrophages are instructed to shift from the M1 state to the M2 state. This “personality” is anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving.

The M2 macrophage’s toolkit is entirely different:

• Anti-inflammatory Cytokines: They produce molecules like Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-?). These cytokines act as potent brakes on the inflammatory process, calming the immune system and telling the M1 warriors to stand down.
• Arginase-1: This enzyme plays a crucial role in tissue remodeling and wound healing.
• Phagocytosis (Cellular Debris Removal): M2 macrophages are expert housekeepers. They engulf and digest dead cells, pathogen remnants, and other debris left over from the inflammatory battle. This process is called phagocytosis.
• Tissue Repair Coordination: They release growth factors that stimulate surrounding cells to rebuild damaged tissue, promoting regeneration and restoring normal function.

The guiding principle of the M2 macrophage is restorative and constructive: “Clean it all up and rebuild.”

The Inflammatory Breakdown: Getting Stuck in M1

A healthy immune response is a beautifully orchestrated dance between the M1 and M2 states. The cycle looks like this: Threat? M1 Activation (Attack)? Threat Neutralized? M2 Activation (Repair)? Resolution.

Systemic inflammation is what happens when this cycle breaks. The macrophages get stuck in the M1 phase. They never receive or properly interpret the signal to transition to the M2 repair phase. Instead of a temporary, localized fire, you get a chronic, body-wide inferno. This isn’t just happening in one isolated tissue; it’s occurring simultaneously in multiple organs:

• Adipose (Fat) Tissue: Fat cells are not just inert storage depots; they are metabolically active and can produce inflammatory cytokines. In obesity, macrophages infiltrate fat tissue and get locked in an M1 state, creating a major source of systemic inflammation that drives insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
• Liver: Chronic M1 activation in the liver’s resident macrophages (called Kupffer cells) contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to more severe liver damage.
• Kidneys: Inflammatory processes underpin chronic kidney disease, damaging the organ’s delicate filtering structures.
• Endothelium: The endothelium is the thin layer of cells lining all of our blood vessels. Chronic M1 activation here contributes to endothelial dysfunction, the foundational step in the development of atherosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of arteries).
• Brain: As we will explore in detail, the brain’s resident macrophages, called microglia, can become chronically activated, driving neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

This is the critical point to understand: systemic inflammation doesn’t just cause one problem. It causes every problem, all at once. It’s the same core pathological process—a dysregulated macrophage stuck in a destructive M1 program—unfolding in every major organ system of your body.

Inflammaging: The Unifying Theory of Chronic Disease

For a long time, modern medicine has operated under a model of specialization. If you have a heart problem, you see a cardiologist. If you have joint pain, you see a rheumatologist. If you have metabolic issues, you see an endocrinologist. We have treated type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, dementia, and many forms of cancer as distinct, separate entities with unique causes.

But what if they aren’t?

Emerging research is converging on a revolutionary idea: these are not separate diseases, but different manifestations of a single underlying root cause. A 2023 review in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine powerfully articulated this concept, identifying chronic low-grade systemic inflammation—a phenomenon they termed “inflammaging” (inflammation + aging)—as the unifying mechanism driving most age-related chronic diseases (Nature Medicine, 2023).

This is a paradigm shift of immense importance. It reframes our entire approach to health and disease.

The “CliffsNotes” Version of Modern Disease

Let’s break down the implications of this unifying theory. If chronic inflammation is the common soil from which these different diseases grow, then focusing on the individual “weeds” (the symptoms or the named diseases) is an inefficient and ultimately failing strategy. We can spend a lifetime managing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, or reducing blood pressure. Still, if we never address the inflammatory fire that is causing all of these issues, we are merely playing a game of whack-a-mole.

The powerful, hopeful message of this new understanding is this: If you can successfully resolve systemic inflammation, you can simultaneously address the root cause of essentially every major chronic disease that threatens your health and longevity.

This isn’t an oversimplification; it’s a recognition of a deeper biological truth. The body doesn’t operate in silos. The systems are all interconnected, and a foundational dysfunction like chronic inflammation will inevitably ripple outwards, causing dysfunction everywhere.

• In the pancreas and muscle cells, it leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
• In the blood vessels, it drives the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
• In the brain, it fuels the neurodegenerative processes of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• In the cellular environment, the combination of inflammatory signaling and oxidative stress creates conditions ripe for mutations and uncontrolled growth, leading to cancer.

By shifting our focus from the downstream consequences to the upstream cause, we move from a model of disease management to a model of true health restoration.

A Brain on Fire: Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Decline

Nowhere is the destructive power of chronic inflammation more devastating than inside our most precious organ: the brain. The brain is not isolated from the body’s immune system as we once thought. It has its own resident immune cells, a specialized type of macrophage called microglia.

In a healthy brain, microglia are vigilant caretakers. They prune unused synaptic connections, clear away metabolic waste during sleep, and stand ready to defend against any potential threats. They are essential for maintaining brain plasticity and function.

However, when the brain is exposed to chronic systemic inflammation, or to local triggers like head trauma or toxins, these microglia can shift into that destructive, pro-inflammatory M1 state. And when they do, they become arguably the most destructive force inside your skull.

The Mechanics of Neurodestruction

Chronically activated M1 microglia wage a relentless war on the brain’s delicate architecture. Here’s how they do it:

1. Cytokine and ROS Barrage: Like their counterparts in the body, M1 microglia spew inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1B) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the confined, intricate environment of the brain, this chemical onslaught is catastrophic. It directly damages neurons, their protective myelin sheaths, and the crucial connections between them, known as synapses. This synaptic damage, or “synaptotoxicity,” is a hallmark of early cognitive decline.
2. Shutdown of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): BDNF is often called “Miracle-Gro for the brain.” It is a vital growth factor that supports the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth of new ones (a process called neurogenesis). It is the cornerstone of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to learn, adapt, and form new memories. Chronic neuroinflammation actively suppresses BDNF production and signaling. Without it, the brain can’t repair itself, can’t learn effectively, and begins to atrophy.
3. Impaired Neuroplasticity: The combination of synaptic damage and BDNF shutdown impedes the brain’s ability to adapt. Learning becomes difficult, memory formation is impaired, and cognitive flexibility declines. The brain becomes rigid and less resilient.

The Common Root of Brain Disorders

From a functional medicine perspective, we can now see that many of the neurological conditions we’ve traditionally categorized as separate diseases are, at their core, variations on a theme of neuroinflammation.

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Characterized by the buildup of amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. We now understand that neuroinflammation is not just a consequence of these protein aggregates; it is a primary driver of their formation and toxicity. In their attempt to clear the plaques, microglia often cause more collateral damage than the plaques themselves.
• Parkinson’s Disease: Involves the death of dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Neuroinflammation is a key driver of this neuronal cell death.
• Dementia: A general term for severe cognitive decline. Whether it’s vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or Alzheimer’s-related dementia, neuroinflammation is a common underlying pathology.
• Brain Fog, Depression, and Anxiety: These are not just “in your head.” They are often the earliest and most common symptoms of neuroinflammation. The inflammatory cytokines released in the brain can directly alter neurotransmitter metabolism (like serotonin and dopamine) and disrupt the neural circuits that regulate mood, focus, and mental clarity.

The takeaway is profound: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and chronic brain fog are not fundamentally separate diseases with distinct, unrelated causes. They are largely the same core problem—chronic neuroinflammation—manifesting in different architectural locations of the brain and affecting different neuronal populations. The location determines the name we give the disease, but the underlying fire is the same.

The Role of the Thymus and the Myth of “Autoimmunity”

To fully understand how the immune system becomes so profoundly dysregulated, we need to look further upstream to one of its master command centers: the thymus gland. The thymus, a small organ located behind your breastbone, is like the immune system’s elite training academy. Its primary job is to educate and mature a critical type of immune cell called the T cell.

Thymic Education: Training T Cells to Be Tolerant

T cell education within the thymus is a marvel of biological precision. It’s a rigorous quality control process with two main stages:

1. Positive Selection: This step ensures that T cells can recognize the body’s own “self” markers (known as MHC molecules). If a T cell can’t do this, it’s useless, as it won’t be able to identify cells that need inspection. These incompetent cells are eliminated.
2. Negative Selection: This is arguably the most critical step. T cells that have passed positive selection are then tested for how strongly they react to the body’s own proteins (“self-antigens”). If a T cell reacts too strongly, it could attack the body’s own tissues. These “self-reactive” T cells are identified and destroyed, a process called clonal deletion. This ensures self-tolerance.

Only the T cells that pass both tests—those that can recognize self-MHC but do not attack self-antigens—are allowed to “graduate” from the thymus and circulate in the body as mature, competent, and tolerant defenders.

When Quality Control Fails: Immune Misdirection

What happens when this intricate signaling and selection process in the thymus begins to fail? This is a common consequence of aging (a process called thymic involution) and chronic inflammatory stress.

When thymic signaling is impaired, the negative selection process becomes faulty. Self-reactive T cells that should have been eliminated are mistakenly allowed to graduate. These rogue T cells are now circulating in your bloodstream, armed and dangerous, with the potential to attack your own healthy tissues.

This is what we commonly call “autoimmune disease.” However, I would argue that this term is a misnomer. The immune system has not become “self-attacking” out of malice. It has become misdirected. It’s a case of mistaken identity, driven by failures in upstream training and regulatory systems. There is no such thing as “autoimmunity” in the sense of a system intentionally destroying itself. There is only immune dysregulation and loss of tolerance.

When these misdirected T cells encounter their target antigen in the body, they launch an inflammatory attack, leading to the conditions we know as:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: T cells attack the lining of the joints.
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: T cells attack the thyroid gland.
• Multiple Sclerosis: T cells attack the myelin sheath that protects nerves.
• Lupus (SLE): T cells and the antibodies they help create can attack DNA and proteins within the cell nucleus, affecting multiple organ systems.

The conventional approach to these conditions involves powerful immunosuppressant drugs—biologics, steroids, and others—that aim to shut down the downstream inflammatory consequences. While often necessary for symptom control, these drugs come with significant risks and do not address the root cause: the upstream failure of immune regulation and tolerance.

The Symptom Management Trap: Missing the Forest for the Trees

Our modern pharmaceutical model has become incredibly adept at one thing: managing the downstream consequences of upstream problems. We have developed a multi-hundred-billion-dollar industry built on treating the symptoms of chronic inflammation, often without ever acknowledging the common root.

Consider the blockbuster drugs that define modern medicine:

• Statins: Prescribed to lower cholesterol, a downstream marker related to the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis.
• Metformin: Prescribed to manage blood sugar, a downstream consequence of inflammation-driven insulin resistance.
• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): Prescribed for depression and anxiety, which are often downstream neurological symptoms of neuroinflammation.
• Biologics: Prescribed to block specific inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha in “autoimmune” conditions, targeting a single downstream product of a much larger dysregulation.

Each of these drugs is marketed as a solution to a different problem, sold to a different medical specialist, and viewed as treating a distinct disease. But from a functional and systems biology perspective, they are all band-aids applied to different symptoms of the same underlying fire: systemic inflammation.

This is not to say these medications have no place. They can be life-saving and essential for managing acute symptoms. However, they should not be mistaken for a cure or a long-term solution. They do not fix the problem. They merely mask the effects of a dysregulated biology.

The truth is, you likely don’t have ten different diseases. You have one dysregulated biology that is producing ten different symptoms. The names we give these symptoms—diabetes, heart disease, depression, arthritis—can be a distraction, leading us down a path of fragmented care that never addresses the core issue. The key to true healing and lasting wellness is to stop chasing symptoms and start fixing the fundamental dysregulation.

Unlocking the Secrets of Inflammation: Integrative Medicine Approach- Video

Restoring Balance: An Integrative Approach to Resolving Inflammation

If systemic inflammation is the root cause, then our primary therapeutic goal must be to resolve it. This is where an integrative, functional medicine approach shines. Instead of suppressing downstream inflammation, we aim to go upstream and restore the body’s powerful regulatory circuits. Our goal is to shift the entire system from a state of M1 destruction to a state of M2 repair.

At Injury Medical Clinic PA, our collaborative team, led by me and our Medical Director, Dr. Maria Cardenas, utilizes a comprehensive strategy that combines advanced diagnostics, lifestyle interventions, targeted supplementation, and specialized therapies like chiropractic care to achieve this goal.

The Power of Upstream Intervention: Thymosin Alpha-1

One of the most exciting areas of research in restorative medicine involves signaling molecules called peptides. These are short chains of amino acids that act as precise biological messengers. One such peptide, Thymosin Alpha-1, holds immense promise for correcting the immune dysregulation at the heart of systemic inflammation.

Thymosin Alpha-1 is a naturally occurring peptide produced by the thymus gland. It is one of the key signaling molecules involved in that T cell education process we discussed. When used therapeutically, it can help to:

• Restore Regulatory Circuitry: It helps to re-establish proper immune tolerance by enhancing the function of Regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are the “peacekeepers” of the immune system. Their job is to suppress excessive immune responses and prevent the activation of self-reactive T cells. By bolstering Treg function, Thymosin Alpha-1 helps to shut down the misdirected immune attacks that characterize so-called autoimmune conditions.
• Shift Macrophage Polarization: Crucially, Thymosin Alpha-1 provides a powerful signal that helps to shift macrophages away from the destructive M1 state and back towards the restorative M2 state. This is the key to breaking the chronic inflammatory loop. It doesn’t just block a single cytokine; it changes the macrophage’s entire functional program, turning it from an arsonist into a firefighter and repairman.
• Shut Down the Inflammatory Loop: By restoring regulation and promoting the M2 phenotype, Thymosin Alpha-1 helps to extinguish the smoldering fire of systemic inflammation that is silently damaging your biology.

By going upstream with interventions like Thymosin Alpha-1, we are not just managing a symptom; we are fixing the regulation. And when you fix the regulation, you create the conditions for the body to fix everything else.

Our Integrative Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Protocol

Our approach is multifaceted, recognizing that restoring balance requires a holistic strategy.

• Advanced Functional Testing: We start by measuring, not guessing. We utilize advanced lab tests to assess inflammatory markers (like hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha), immune cell function, gut health (a major driver of inflammation), hormone balance, and nutrient status. This gives us a precise roadmap of your unique biological landscape.
• Personalized Nutrition and Lifestyle Plans: Food is information. We design anti-inflammatory nutritional protocols tailored to your specific needs, removing inflammatory triggers and providing the building blocks for repair. We also emphasize stress management, sleep optimization, and appropriate physical activity—all powerful modulators of the immune system.
• Targeted Supplementation and Peptides: Based on your lab results, we may recommend specific nutrients (like Omega-3s, Vitamin D, curcumin) or advanced therapies like peptide protocols (e.g., Thymosin Alpha-1, BPC-157) to modulate the immune response and accelerate tissue healing. Dr. Cardenas provides careful medical oversight to ensure safety and efficacy.
• Integrative Chiropractic Care: This is a critical and often overlooked component of managing systemic inflammation. As a Doctor of Chiropractic on our integrated team, my role is to address the neuromechanical aspect of health.

• • The Chiropractic Adjustment and the Nervous System: The spine is not just a structural scaffold; it is the protective housing for the central nervous system. Misalignments or dysfunctional movement patterns in the spine (which we call subluxations) can create chronic “noise” or stress in the nervous system. This aberrant nerve signaling can directly influence the immune system via the neuro-immuno-endocrine axis.
  • Reducing “Threat” Signals: A chiropractic adjustment is a precise, targeted input into the nervous system. By restoring proper motion and alignment to the spine’s joints, we can reduce this chronic nociceptive (stress/threat) signaling. This helps shift the autonomic nervous system away from a “fight-or-flight” (sympathetic)- dominant state—which is inherently pro-inflammatory—toward a “rest-and-digest” (parasympathetic) state, which is anti-inflammatory and pro-healing.
  • Improving Body-Brain Communication: By optimizing spinal mechanics, we improve the quality of the communication flowing from the body to the brain. A healthier, more coherent nervous system is better equipped to regulate all other systems, including the immune system. My clinical observations consistently show that patients receiving regular chiropractic care as part of a broader functional medicine protocol report lower pain levels, improved function, and a greater sense of well-being, which correlates with a reduced overall inflammatory burden.

This combination of medical oversight from Dr. Cardenas, targeted functional medicine interventions, and foundational chiropractic care allows us to address systemic inflammation from every possible angle. We are not just chasing symptoms. We are rebuilding your health from the ground up by fixing the underlying dysregulation.

The future of medicine is not about finding a new pill for every new illness. It is about understanding the interconnectedness of our biology and using that knowledge to restore the body’s innate capacity for regulation, repair, and healing. It’s about understanding that you don’t have ten diseases; you have one biology. Fix the regulation, and you can fix everything.

References

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• Giovannini, S., Onder, G., Liperoti, R., Russo, A., Carter, C., Capoluongo, E., Pahor, M., Bernabei, R., & Landi, F. (2011). Interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha as predictors of mortality in frail, community-living elderly individuals. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 59(9), 1679–1685. doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03570.x
• Stephenson, J., Nutma, E., van der Valk, P., & Amor, S. (2018). Inflammation in CNS neurodegenerative diseases. Immunology, 154(2), 204–219. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5980185/
• Roy, R. A., Boucher, J. P., & Comtois, A. S. (2010). Inflammatory response following a short-term course of chiropractic treatment in subjects with and without chronic low back pain. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 9(3), 107–114. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3188345/
• Palmer, D. B. (2018). The effect of age on thymic function. Frontiers in Immunology, 9, 2460. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24109481/
• Dominari, A., Hathaway, D., 3rd, & Pandav, K. (2020). Thymosin alpha 1: A comprehensive review of the literature. World Journal of Virology, 9(5), 67–78. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7747025/
• Tracey, K. J. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature, 420(6917), 853–859. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12490958/

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