Title : Where autoimmunity meets metabolism: Lifestyle strategies to slow accelerated aging
Abstract:
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren’s syndrome are increasingly recognized as conditions that accelerate biological aging. Chronic systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and telomere shortening contribute not only to joint and tissue damage but also to sarcopenia, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk — all of which overlap significantly with metabolic disease pathways traditionally managed in endocrinology.
Patients with autoimmune disease often experience muscle loss, reduced metabolic flexibility, and increased visceral adiposity, even at normal body weight. Steroid use, chronic fatigue, and physical inactivity further exacerbate these changes. These phenomena — sometimes referred to collectively as “inflammaging” — increase the burden of diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease in rheumatic populations.
This session will review the biological mechanisms linking chronic inflammation to accelerated aging and metabolic dysfunction, with a special focus on the role of muscle health as a critical, yet under-recognized, mediator of metabolic outcomes. We will discuss how early lifestyle interventions, particularly anti- inflammatory dietary patterns, resistance-based physical activity, stress management, and sleep optimization, can significantly alter the clinical trajectory for patients living with both autoimmune and metabolic conditions.
Through case examples, we will highlight how targeted lifestyle strategies have been successfully integrated alongside standard therapies to improve fatigue, glycemic control, muscle strength, and inflammatory burden in autoimmune populations. Practical clinical pearls will be provided to help endocrinologists and diabetes specialists recognize when autoimmune processes may be contributing to metabolic challenges and how to implement interdisciplinary, lifestyle-focused approaches.
Learning Objectives: Describe how autoimmune diseases accelerate biological aging and promote metabolic dysfunction. Recognize the role of sarcopenia and mitochondrial dysfunction in autoimmune-related metabolic disease. Apply practical lifestyle interventions to improve musculoskeletal, metabolic, and immune health in patients with autoimmune disease.
