Age is considered a dominant risk factor in the development of most neurodegenerative disorders. The kynurenine pathway, a major metabolic pathway of tryptophan is altered in the majority of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study we have analysed CSF samples from 49 healthy women across a wide age range (0-90) for kynurenine pathway metabolites and the inflammatory marker neopterin. Our results show central tryptophan metabolism is increased with age in women, with an apparent shift toward the neurotoxin quinolinic acid. We also observed an increase in central levels of the inflammatory marker neopterin with age and a positive correlation between neopterin and kynurenine pathway activation. We conclude that, the changes that occur in the kynurenine pathway as a result of normal aging are mechanistically linked to increased inflammatory signalling and have some explanatory potential with regard to age-associated degenerative diseases in the CNS. Management of health in ageing and (preventative) treatment would do well to look to the kynurenine pathway for potentially novel solutions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.