Evidence check: hsCRP in the context of longevity

hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) is a well-established biomarker of systemic inflammation. In epidemiological studies, chronically elevated levels (≥2 mg/L) are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and accelerated aging (inflammaging). However, evidence for a direct causal role in longevity is limited. hsCRP is a non-specific risk marker, not a direct driver of aging. Randomized controlled trials demonstrating that lowering hsCRP (e.g., via statins or lifestyle) extends lifespan are lacking. Moreover, hsCRP is influenced by many confounders (infections, obesity, smoking), complicating interpretation. Consumer DNA tests that offer hsCRP-related SNPs often overstate predictive power. For longevity assessment, hsCRP is best used as part of a multimodal risk score (e.g., with IL-6, TNF-α), but alone it is insufficient. Evidence: human-moderate (predominantly observational studies, meta-analyses).