As people age, a protein called TNF increases in the body and causes mutated blood cells to multiply and take over the bone marrow in a condition called CHIP (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential). According to Gram Research analysis of recent studies, elevated TNF levels favor the growth of these mutated cells, and this process happens differently in men and women. While drugs that block TNF can reduce these problematic cell changes in people with inflammatory diseases, more research is needed to determine whether lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can prevent CHIP development.
As we get older, our bone marrow—the spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells—starts to work differently. A protein called TNF, which increases with age, causes certain blood cells to multiply in ways that might not be healthy. According to Gram Research analysis, this process, called clonal hematopoiesis, happens when mutated cells take over and crowd out normal ones. Scientists are discovering that this change is connected to aging and inflammation, and that drugs designed to block TNF might help prevent these problematic cell changes. Understanding this process could lead to better ways to keep our blood cells healthy as we age.
Key Statistics
A 2026 review in Current Opinion in Hematology found that elevated TNF levels in aging bone marrow specifically promote the expansion of mutated blood cells associated with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP).
Research shows that anti-TNF inhibitor drugs reduce the frequency of CHIP-mutation-containing clones in patients with multiple inflammatory diseases, suggesting TNF is a key driver of age-related blood cell changes.
Sex differences in TNF levels may explain why men and women develop different frequencies and types of CHIP mutations as they age, according to recent research reviewed in Current Opinion in Hematology.
While anti-TNF drugs reduce problematic changes in myeloid blood cell production during aging, they are not effective as a direct treatment for established CHIP, indicating additional anti-inflammatory strategies are needed.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How a protein called TNF affects blood cell production in aging bone marrow, particularly whether it causes mutated cells to multiply and take over
- Who participated: This is a review article examining decades of research studies on aging, blood cells, and inflammation—not a single study with human participants
- Key finding: Higher TNF levels in older people cause mutated blood cells to grow and spread, especially in a condition called CHIP (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential), and this happens differently in men versus women
- What it means for you: As you age, your blood cell production naturally changes due to inflammation. While this is a normal part of aging, understanding it may help doctors develop better treatments to keep your blood healthy. However, this research is still developing, and more studies are needed before new treatments become available
The Research Details
This article is a review, meaning the authors examined many previous research studies to understand what scientists have learned about how aging affects blood cell production. Rather than conducting their own experiment with patients, they looked at the most important discoveries from the past several decades of research. They focused on studies showing how a protein called TNF (tumor necrosis factor) influences blood cell development as people age, and how this protein affects a condition where mutated cells start to dominate the bone marrow. The authors also examined research comparing how this process differs between men and women, and whether drugs that block TNF might help prevent these changes.
Understanding the causes of age-related changes in blood cell production is important because these changes can lead to serious health problems like blood cancers and heart disease. By reviewing all the research together, scientists can see patterns and connections that might not be obvious from single studies. This helps identify the most promising directions for developing new treatments that could keep people healthier as they age.
This is a review article published in a respected medical journal, which means it summarizes expert knowledge on the topic. However, because it reviews other studies rather than conducting new research, the strength of the findings depends on the quality of the studies being reviewed. The authors acknowledge that more research is needed, particularly on whether lifestyle changes like diet and exercise might help prevent these blood cell changes.
What the Results Show
Research shows that TNF, a protein that increases as we age, plays a major role in causing mutated blood cells to grow and take over the bone marrow. This process, called clonal hematopoiesis, happens when one or a few mutated cells multiply so much that they become the dominant source of blood cells. The higher the TNF levels in an older person’s body, the more likely these mutated cells are to expand and persist. Different types of mutations respond differently to TNF, meaning some mutated cells are more aggressive than others. Importantly, men and women appear to have different levels of TNF as they age, which may explain why they develop different types of blood cell mutations at different rates.
The research also shows that chronic inflammation—the kind that develops from long-term health conditions—increases TNF levels and accelerates these problematic blood cell changes. Drugs called anti-TNF inhibitors, which are already used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, have been shown to reduce the number of mutated blood cells in patients taking them. However, these drugs are not effective as a direct treatment for CHIP itself, suggesting that blocking TNF alone isn’t enough to reverse the condition once it develops. The authors note that other anti-inflammatory approaches, such as diet and exercise, might be helpful but need more research to confirm.
Scientists have known for decades that TNF affects blood cell production, but recent research has revealed the specific ways it influences aging and mutation development. This review brings together newer discoveries showing that TNF doesn’t just affect blood cell numbers—it specifically favors the growth of mutated cells. Previous research focused mainly on general aging processes, but current studies show that TNF is a key driver of clonal hematopoiesis. This represents a shift from viewing these changes as inevitable consequences of aging to seeing them as processes that might be preventable or treatable through anti-inflammatory strategies.
This review has several important limitations. First, it summarizes other studies rather than presenting new data, so the conclusions are only as strong as the research being reviewed. Second, most research on this topic has been conducted in laboratory settings or animal models, with limited human studies. Third, the authors note that we still don’t fully understand why anti-TNF drugs work in some inflammatory diseases but not directly for CHIP treatment. Finally, there is insufficient research on whether lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise can prevent these blood cell changes, so recommendations in this area remain speculative.
The Bottom Line
Based on current research, maintaining overall health through regular exercise and a healthy diet may help reduce inflammation and TNF levels, though direct evidence for preventing CHIP is still limited (moderate confidence). If you have a chronic inflammatory condition, continuing anti-TNF medications as prescribed may have the added benefit of reducing problematic blood cell changes (moderate confidence). Regular blood work as you age can help monitor for changes in blood cell counts, which may indicate developing CHIP (high confidence). Consult with your doctor about your individual risk factors and whether additional monitoring is appropriate for you.
This research is most relevant for people over 60, since CHIP becomes more common with age. People with chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis should be aware of this research, as it suggests their TNF-blocking medications may have additional benefits. Men and women should both pay attention, as the research indicates sex differences in how these changes develop. Healthcare providers should consider this information when treating older patients and those with inflammatory diseases. Younger people can use this information to understand the importance of managing inflammation through lifestyle choices.
Changes in blood cell production happen gradually over years and decades, not weeks or months. If you make lifestyle changes to reduce inflammation, you might see improvements in inflammatory markers within 3-6 months, though effects on blood cell mutations would take much longer to measure. If you’re taking anti-TNF medications for another condition, any protective effects on blood cells would likely develop over years of consistent treatment. Most people won’t notice any symptoms from CHIP, even if it develops, since it often causes no immediate health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CHIP and why should I care about it?
CHIP occurs when mutated blood cells multiply and take over your bone marrow as you age. Most people with CHIP have no symptoms, but it increases the risk of blood cancers and heart disease. Research shows TNF protein drives this process, and understanding it may lead to preventive treatments.
Does TNF cause blood cell problems in aging?
Yes, research shows elevated TNF levels in older people specifically promote the growth of mutated blood cells. TNF is a protein that increases with age and chronic inflammation, making it a key driver of age-related changes in blood cell production.
Can anti-TNF drugs prevent or treat CHIP?
Anti-TNF drugs reduce the frequency of mutated blood cells in people with inflammatory diseases, but they don’t effectively treat CHIP once it develops. This suggests blocking TNF alone isn’t sufficient, and researchers are exploring other anti-inflammatory approaches.
Why do men and women have different blood cell changes with age?
Research indicates that men and women have different TNF levels as they age, which explains why they develop different types and frequencies of CHIP mutations. Sex differences in inflammation may be a key factor in age-related blood cell changes.
Can diet and exercise help prevent age-related blood cell problems?
While diet and exercise reduce inflammation and TNF levels, direct evidence that they prevent CHIP is still limited. Researchers recommend these lifestyle changes for overall health, but more studies are needed to confirm their specific effects on blood cell mutations.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track inflammatory markers through regular blood work (CRP and TNF levels if available) every 6-12 months, logging results in the app to monitor trends over time and correlate with lifestyle changes
- Log daily anti-inflammatory activities: 30 minutes of moderate exercise, servings of anti-inflammatory foods (leafy greens, fatty fish, berries), and stress management practices, with the goal of reducing TNF levels through consistent lifestyle choices
- Create a long-term health dashboard tracking blood work results, exercise consistency, diet quality, and inflammation-related symptoms over 1-2 year periods to identify patterns and share with your healthcare provider during annual checkups
This article reviews scientific research on how aging affects blood cell production and is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace consultation with your healthcare provider. CHIP (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) is a complex condition that requires professional medical evaluation and monitoring. If you have concerns about your blood health, age-related changes, or inflammatory conditions, consult with your doctor or hematologist. Do not start, stop, or change any medications based on this information without medical guidance. The research discussed is ongoing, and recommendations may change as new evidence emerges.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.