3 ms·

Anti-inflammatories are in the news lots now. Low-dose aspirin, intermittent fasting, turmeric. Why are we chronically inflamed?

seanfreiburg 9y ago
sugar mostly
askvictor 9y ago
There are a few theories around, mostly around the changes in lifestyle in the last couple of hundred years compared to what we're evolutionarily accustomed to. Things like not walking/exercising nearly as much as we once did, a much more refined and sugary diet, much less exposure to pathogens (lazy immune system theory).
JofArnold 9y ago
Pollution.
- upbeatlinux 9y ago
  Currently there are a studies [1] suggesting Alzheimer's is an inflammatory disease where a bunch of different particles like micro-plastics, heavy metals, microfibers, etc accumulate in the brain causing a brain immune response (amyloid beta and tau) that is more dysregulated in people with certain genetic backgrounds. Honestly I think this hypothesis makes the most sense - especially if you look at Alzheimer's global and local distribution patterns. Locally people near freeways get Alzhiemer's at way higher rates [2] (I've seen interesting maps of this before but can't find any ATM). Think about all the particulate matter (incomplete combustion products, rust particles, little pieces of tire) you are breathing in near freeways. Globally industrial countries have the highest rates of dementia, and the lowest rates are in Africa, India, and South Asia [3]. These places have less industry, less traffic, less plastic (I mean, they are catching up fast, but historically if you're looking at patterns), etc. [3] also mentions a correlation between meat eating and dementia. I don't necessarily think this is due to the "any meat is bad for you" FUD instead it's most likely due to two factors - plants have greater anti-inflammatory properties - any type of fat will accumulate loads of particles and plants don't have fat tl;dr nutrition is complicated and there is a lot of FUD - [1] https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alzheimers-disease-consists-of-three-distinct-subtypes-according-to-ucla-study https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alzheimers-disease-consis... - [2] http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-pollution-alzheimers-20170131-story.html http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-poll... - [3] https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/11/12/where-are-the-lowest-rates-of-alzheimers-in-the-world/ https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/11/12/where-are-the-lowest-r...
dmix 9y ago
Inflammation is the bodies default response to nearly every form of pathology and injury... so isn't saying much. Low-dose aspirin is not recommended for people without (potential) heart disease issues as it can be otherwise harmful. And this turmeric study was done on older people as well. So again not really saying much about the wider population.

seanfreiburg 9y ago

sugar mostly

askvictor 9y ago

There are a few theories around, mostly around the changes in lifestyle in the last couple of hundred years compared to what we're evolutionarily accustomed to. Things like not walking/exercising nearly as much as we once did, a much more refined and sugary diet, much less exposure to pathogens (lazy immune system theory).

JofArnold 9y ago

Pollution.

upbeatlinux 9y ago
Currently there are a studies [1] suggesting Alzheimer's is an inflammatory disease where a bunch of different particles like micro-plastics, heavy metals, microfibers, etc accumulate in the brain causing a brain immune response (amyloid beta and tau) that is more dysregulated in people with certain genetic backgrounds. Honestly I think this hypothesis makes the most sense - especially if you look at Alzheimer's global and local distribution patterns. Locally people near freeways get Alzhiemer's at way higher rates [2] (I've seen interesting maps of this before but can't find any ATM). Think about all the particulate matter (incomplete combustion products, rust particles, little pieces of tire) you are breathing in near freeways. Globally industrial countries have the highest rates of dementia, and the lowest rates are in Africa, India, and South Asia [3]. These places have less industry, less traffic, less plastic (I mean, they are catching up fast, but historically if you're looking at patterns), etc. [3] also mentions a correlation between meat eating and dementia. I don't necessarily think this is due to the "any meat is bad for you" FUD instead it's most likely due to two factors - plants have greater anti-inflammatory properties - any type of fat will accumulate loads of particles and plants don't have fat tl;dr nutrition is complicated and there is a lot of FUD - [1] https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alzheimers-disease-consists-of-three-distinct-subtypes-according-to-ucla-study https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/alzheimers-disease-consis... - [2] http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-pollution-alzheimers-20170131-story.html http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-poll... - [3] https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/11/12/where-are-the-lowest-rates-of-alzheimers-in-the-world/ https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/11/12/where-are-the-lowest-r...

dmix 9y ago

Inflammation is the bodies default response to nearly every form of pathology and injury... so isn't saying much. Low-dose aspirin is not recommended for people without (potential) heart disease issues as it can be otherwise harmful. And this turmeric study was done on older people as well. So again not really saying much about the wider population.