Summary

• CRP (C-reactive protein) is a blood marker of inflammation made mainly by the liver.
• In large studies, higher CRP predicts higher all-cause mortality (risk tends to rise as CRP rises).
• CRP is most useful for longevity when you look at baseline + trend (repeat when you’re well), not a one-off reading during an infection.
• Very high CRP (>10 mg/L) is often acute inflammation → repeat in ~2 weeks and look for causes if it stays high.

CRP (C-Reactive Protein) and Longevity

What it means • Why it matters • How KamaLama scores it

What CRP is (simple)

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein your body produces when the immune system is activated. Most CRP is made by the liver, and blood levels rise when there is inflammation (infection, injury, chronic disease activity, metabolic inflammation).

CRP is not a diagnosis by itself. Think of it as a smoke alarm: it often signals an underlying driver that matters for long-term health.

A short history: when did we start measuring CRP?

1930 — Discovery

• CRP was first described in 1930. It was named because it reacts with the “C” polysaccharide of pneumococcus.

1957 — A practical lab test appears

• A latex agglutination test made CRP easier to measure in clinical settings (a key step toward routine use).

1980s — Routine clinical adoption accelerates

• Better immunoassays and automation made CRP more common in everyday clinical care.

Mid-1990s — “hs-CRP” changes prevention

• High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) assays could detect low-grade inflammation within what used to be considered “normal” ranges.
• This is when CRP became widely discussed as a risk marker (especially in cardiovascular prevention).

Why CRP is interesting (beyond “inflammation”)

A few useful facts for user education:

• CRP moves fast: it can rise quickly after an inflammatory trigger, and falls relatively quickly when the trigger resolves.
• Short half-life (~19 hours): blood levels mainly reflect how strongly the liver is being “told” to make CRP right now.
• Innate immunity role: CRP can bind to damaged cells and some microbes and help trigger immune clean-up (one reason it rises during infections).

CRP vs hs-CRP (why labs show both)

• CRP (standard): best for bigger spikes (e.g., acute infection).
• hs-CRP: detects small elevations (the zone most relevant to long-term risk modelling).

KamaLama’s longevity interpretation mostly lives in the hs-CRP range.

CRP ranges KamaLama uses

Units: mg/L

What the evidence says (in one picture)

Across large cohorts and meta-analyses:

• People with higher CRP tend to have higher all-cause mortality.
• The pattern is usually dose-responsive (higher CRP → higher risk), though the curve is not perfectly linear.

Important nuance:

• CRP is strongly predictive, but it can be elevated because of many different causes.
• That’s why repeat testing and trend matter.

How KamaLama converts CRP into an estimated “years” impact

This mapping is designed to be:

• understandable to users,
• consistent with risk gradients seen in long follow-up cohorts,
• cautious about acute spikes (so we don’t “punish” someone for a temporary infection).

KamaLama scoring (recommended)

Why cap the “Very High” band? Because >10 mg/L is often temporary (infection/injury). The best next step is usually repeat when well, not a permanent “lifestyle penalty”.

Why CRP can be high (common causes)

Short-term (often temporary)

• recent infection (even mild)
• dental inflammation
• injury / surgery
• flare of an inflammatory condition

Persistent (the longevity-relevant pattern)

• excess body fat / metabolic dysfunction
• smoking exposure
• low fitness / inactivity
• chronic conditions (cardiovascular, kidney disease, diabetes, COPD, etc.)

What to do if CRP is very high (>10 mg/L)

• If you’re sick right now: treat it as “active inflammation”, not a stable baseline.
• Repeat in ~2 weeks when you’re well.
• If it stays high without an obvious reason, discuss with a clinician to look for causes.

How to lower CRP (safe, evidence-based levers)

These are “big levers” that often reduce chronic low-grade inflammation:

• Increase activity (especially consistent aerobic + strength training)
• Reduce excess body fat (if relevant)
• Stop smoking
• Improve sleep regularity
• Use a Mediterranean-style pattern (more fibre-rich plants, olive oil, fish; less ultra-processed foods)

References (links)

• Nehring SM, et al. (2023). C-Reactive Protein: Clinical Relevance and Interpretation. NCBI Bookshelf (StatPearls). oai_citation:0‡NCBI
• Kushner I. (2023). C-reactive protein – My perspective on its first half century. (history of discovery and early decades). oai_citation:1‡PMC
• Singer JM, et al. (1957). Agglutination test for C-reactive protein… Am J Clin Pathol. (latex agglutination clinical testing milestone). oai_citation:2‡PubMed
• Ridker PM. (2009). C-reactive protein: eighty years from discovery… Clinical Chemistry. oai_citation:3‡PubMed
• Pepys MB, Hirschfield GM. (2003). C-reactive protein: a critical update. J Clin Invest. (hs-assays mid-1990s; interpretation cautions). oai_citation:4‡PMC
• Myers GL, et al. (2004). CDC/AHA Workshop on Markers of Inflammation… Circulation. (repeat if CRP >10 mg/L). oai_citation:5‡AHA Journals
• Pearson TA, et al. (2003). CDC/AHA statement: Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease… Circulation. (hs-CRP categories; discard/repeat high values). oai_citation:6‡PubMed
• Ahmed MS, et al. (2012). Acute phase reactants… (CRP half-life ~19 hours). oai_citation:7‡PMC
• Mayo Clinic (23 Jan 2025). C-reactive protein test. (hs-CRP often averaged from two tests ~2 weeks apart). oai_citation:8‡Mayo Clinic