Inflammation of the airways could result from smoking or air pollution exposure Lysenko Andrii/Shutterstock Severe airway inflammation impairs the ability of mice to learn when a dangerous situation is no longer a threat, suggesting that the lungs influence emotions and behaviour. This lung-brain connection might also help explain why only a fraction of people who … Read more
“I’m 87. I don’t feel 87, I don’t think like I’m 87,” declared Elaine Neuwirth on TikTok. “The most important thing is to get involved… interact with other people… have a purpose. Get up and move… Be part of the world.” Her words, now viewed by 3.6 million people and counting, capture the growing scientific … Read more
The immune system may be even more complicated than we thought Corona Borealis Studio/Shutterstock Having a robust enough immune system to live a longer life may come at the cost of chronic inflammation. Some immune cells undergo an inflammatory form of death that evolved to protect us from infections, but they also sometimes do this … Read more
Targeting the vagus nerve has shown medical promise for a range of health conditions Science Photo Library/Alamy The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vagus nerve stimulator for rheumatoid arthritis – the first such device to be cleared for an autoimmune condition, potentially paving the way for broader uses. The pill-sized device … Read more
Sitting in the shade is one easy way to avoid the sun’s UV rays Paul Biggins/Alamy People have been trying to protect their skin from the sun since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians, and we have known for more than a century that ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is linked to burns and … Read more
I am not normally a fan of lotions and potions, but right now, four small vials sit on my bedside table. Every morning and every night, I open and sniff each one in turn, savouring the scents as they hit my nostrils. First, the sharp tang of lemon, followed by the abrasive chill of eucalyptus, … Read more
