How Rheumatoid Arthritis Speeds Aging—and How to Push Back

What if rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t just cause joint pain—but quietly speeds up how fast your entire body ages? In this episode of Thriving with Arthritis, Dr. Diana Girnita sits down with Dr. Neha Bhanusali, from the University of Central Florida, with additional training in lifestyle medicine and culinary medicine, to explore the powerful and often overlooked connection between chronic inflammation, biological aging, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this conversation, we move beyond trends and misinformation to focus on what actually matters for patients living with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases.Key Chapters & TakeawaysRA and accelerated aging (“inflammaging”): chronic inflammation can accelerate biological aging—even in relatively young patients.Chronological age vs biological age: Why many RA patients feel older than their peersWhy labs don’t always match symptomsThe truth about methylation tests and anti-aging supplementsMedications plus lifestyle—not one or the otherMovement when you’re in painWhy muscle matters in RANutrition without perfectionGut health, fiber, and fermented foodsSupplements: what’s reasonable and what’s riskyWeight, inflammation, and GLP-1 medicationsMenopause and autoimmune diseaseChronic stress, sleep, and immune agingThe top 3 lifestyle pillars for RA and healthy agingNeha Bhanusali is a board-certified rheumatologist with advanced training in lifestyle and culinary medicine. She also shares practical, plant-forward education on her YouTube channel @PlantForwardMD.https://www.youtube.com/@PlantForwardMDIf you want evidence-based guidance that helps you live better—not just treat labs, subscribe to Thriving with Arthritis.Support the showMore info about Dr. Diana Girnita, MD PhDWebsite: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/Email: [email protected]: https://www.youtube.com/@rheumatologistoncallLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-girnita-md-phd-07b57810/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rheumatologistoncall/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RheumatologistOncall/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3685130571554200