More on Inflammation, the Immune System and Neurodegenerative Diseases (NHS Choices / Frontiers in Neuroscience / BBC News)

Summary

A review article was published last month, covering evidence suggesting that the body’s innate immune system may be involved in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease, associated with a cascade of progressive damage to brain cells. Further details are provided in the following critical appraisal of news headlines:

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Reference

Immune system ‘plays a role in dementia’. London: NHS Choices Behind the Headlines, May 13^th 2016.

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Reference

Richards, RI. Robertson, SA. [and] O’Keefe, LV. [et al] (2016). The enemy within: innate surveillance-mediated cell death, the common mechanism of neurodegenerative disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience. May 10^th 2016, Vol.10, pp.193. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).

Exercise Boosts the Immune System?

It appears likely that physical activity improves the effectiveness of the body’s immune system, even in the elderly.

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Walsh, F. (2018). How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining. London: BBC Health News, March 8^th 2018.

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Duggal, NA. Pollock, RD. Lazarus, NR. [et al] (2018). Major features of immunesenescence, including reduced thymic output, are ameliorated by high levels of physical activity in adulthood. Aging Cell. March 8^th 2018. [Epub ahead of print].