immune system

See the following -

A Hidden Factor in Stroke Severity: the Microbes in Your Gut

Jordana Cepelwicz | Scientific American | March 30, 2016

The bacteria that inhabit our guts have become key players for neuroscientists. A growing body of research links them to a wide array of mental and neurological disorders—from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. Now a study in mice published this week in Nature Medicine suggests that striking the right microbial balance could cause changes in the immune system that significantly reduce brain damage after a stroke—the second leading cause of both death and disability for people around the globe. (Scientific American is part of Springer Nature.)...

Read More »

Antibiotics Given to Babies May Change Their Gut Microbes for Years

Anna Vlasits | STAT | June 15, 2016

Babies born by caesarean section, as well as those given antibiotics early in life, have a different balance of gut microbes than other babies, two new studies show. These differences could put them at higher risk for various health problems in childhood, including asthma, type 1 diabetes, and perhaps even autism. By the time children are 3 years old, their microbiomes are largely stable, said Dr. Ramnik Xavier, a lead author on one of two related studies published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine. So what happens early in life can have long-term implications for health...

Read More »

Babies' Immune Systems May Stand Down To Let Good Microbes Grow

Rob Stein | Shots | November 6, 2013

Here's possible solace for parents who are up at night with a baby who gets sick all the time: There appears to be a good reason why infant immune systems don't fight off germs. Read More »

Diet And Exercise Can Curb Effects Of Parkinson’s Disease, And Promote Overall Immune System Health

Joseph Mercola | Peak Fitness | January 16, 2015

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder in which neurons in dopamine-producing cells within a region of your brain known as the substantia nigra, which is required for normal movement, begin to die...However, recent research2 suggests that exercise may be beneficial; improving balance, mobility, and overall quality of life...

Read More »

From Birth, Our Microbes Become As Personal As A Fingerprint

Rob Stein | Shots | September 9, 2013

Look in the mirror and you won't see your microbiome. But it's there with you from the day you are born. Over time, those bacteria, viruses and fungi multiply until they outnumber your own cells 10 to 1. Read More »

Modern Medicine May Not Be Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors

Staff Writer | NPR Books | April 14, 2014

There are lots of theories about why food allergies, asthma, celiac disease and intestinal disorders like Crohn's disease have been on the rise. Dr. Martin Blaser speculates that it may be connected to the overuse of antibiotics, which has resulted in killing off strains of bacteria that typically live in the gut. Read More »