Good morning. It's Wednesday, June 3. Welcome to this week's Health & Medicine newsletter. Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here or click here to share with friends. |
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This week, our theme is exploring when our own bodies attack us. We'll begin with the more than 100 conditions known collectively as autoimmune diseases. Then we'll move on to inflammation—first identified by the ancient Romans and now recognized as a likely driver of many diseases of aging. Finally, we'll get into our body's response to stress.
Autoimmune diseases were a particularly common request from subscribers (thanks!), and I was delighted to get into the topic. Thoughts on this newsletter or last week's? Send me a note by replying to this message.
—Dina Fine Maron, 1440 Health & Medicine Section Editor |
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Autoimmune diseases, explained
The body's immune system sometimes targets its own cells and tissues, resulting in over 100 distinct conditions known as autoimmune diseases. They include Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Some autoimmune diseases occur when the body attacks just one organ or tissue, while others are systemic.
Roughly 15 million people in the US have an autoimmune disease, and for still unknown reasons about one-third of those individuals have multiple autoimmune conditions. Other unknowns include why these conditions disproportionately affect women and why they cause such varied symptoms. Autoimmune diseases are typically treated with immunosuppressant drugs and steroids.
But recently, CAR-T therapies—originally used for cancer—are showing promise in early clinical trials. These gene-engineered therapies target antigens on problem-causing B cells, wiping out enough of them to apparently restore immune system tolerance. Other cutting-edge experimental approaches target the gut microbiome, seeking to reduce inflammation and disease by altering the gut flora via modifying diets or fecal transplants. GLP-1 drugs are also a recent focus due to early data suggesting they could combat inflammation linked to autoimmune diseases and also reduce symptom flare-ups.
Explore everything else we've found on Autoimmune Diseases.
Also, check out ...
> CAR-T is showing promise for treating lupus. (Read)
> Many patients with psoriasis develop other autoimmune diseases, too. (Read)
> Twin studies shed new light on celiac disease's genetic links. (Read)
> Autoimmune diseases affect between 5% and 10% of people worldwide. (Watch)
> Autoimmune disease incidence is rising—but no one knows why. (Read) |
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In partnership with Allen Institute |
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A New Chapter in Brain Health Begins |
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For more than twenty years, the Allen Institute has set the standard for foundational scientific research. Now, with the launch of the Brain Health accelerator, they are poised to set a new standard in human health research.
A collaborative, global effort, the Brain Health accelerator seeks to transform how we understand and treat disease by studying the human brain directly at the level of cells, circuits, and disease progression. Focused first on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and ALS, it aims to turn that new knowledge into precise genetic therapies, better biomarkers, and earlier diagnoses.
Harnessing the transformative potential of recent breakthroughs in technology, large-scale data, and artificial intelligence, this effort is designed to move discovery faster and bring fresh momentum to one of medicine’s greatest challenges. Explore the science behind this new era of brain disease research. |
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Inflammation 101
Inflammation is the immune system's response to any perceived injury, whether it's an infection, irritant, or physical harm like a broken bone. With a surge of proteins and hormones, its job is to contain and remove any foreign substances, clear away cellular damage, and initiate repairs. But along the way, a person may experience side effects like swelling, pain, redness, or loss of function.
Inflammation was identified by the ancient Romans, and modern science has linked chronic inflammation with numerous illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer's. Improving sleep, diet, exercise, and stress management can modulate inflammation levels, but there is no current cutoff to indicate when inflammation is harmful, or a test to discern whether inflammation is chronic or acute.
Chronic inflammation, much like blood pressure, may not have outward symptoms, but mounting research suggests constant, low-level inflammation as we age—termed inflammaging—appears to lead to attacks against the body's own cells and tissues in ways that can wreak havoc on our minds and bodies.
Explore everything else we've found on Inflammation.
Also, check out ...
> There's no definitive test for inflammation, or a baseline for "normal" levels. (Read)
> GLP-1s may lower inflammation, possibly combating cognitive decline. (Read)
> There's no one anti-inflammatory diet, but certain foods raise inflammation risk. (Read)
> Inflammaging appears to differ across global populations. (Read) |
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A stress primer
Stress is our body's physical or behavioral response to events that alter our homeostasis, or the internal balance required for life under normal circumstances. When we encounter perceived threats or pressure—known as stressors—a biological chain reaction occurs that sharpens our minds, boosts our performance, and heightens our immune response.
This is known as our "fight-or-flight" response and has evolved over millions of years to protect us in sudden stressful situations. This response allows us to run a little faster, jump a little higher—even generate superhuman strength to lift a car off a trapped family member.
Stress can be categorized into two types—acute and chronic. Acute stress occurs after short-term events that lead to temporary changes in our body's functioning. Short-term mild stress actually helps make us more resilient, and can spark cellular repair and regeneration. Chronic stress occurs when a stressor persists for a long time or frequently recurs, subjecting someone to the prolonged physical and psychological effects of epinephrine and cortisol, and inflammation that may contribute to myriad chronic diseases.
Explore everything else we've found on Stress.
Also, check out ...
> Yes, stress-induced hormones contribute to gray hair. (Read)
> Stress can be contagious—and scientists want to know more. (Read)
> How we frame stress—as good or bad—seems to alter how it affects us. (Watch)
> Our ancient fight-or-flight response may contribute to modern ailments. (Watch) |
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Medical Developments Spotlight |
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We love spending time learning about the latest medical breakthroughs and spotlighting research that piques our interest, may influence future research directions, or inform healthcare conversations. Here's what we found this week.
> GSK's 'bepi' hep B drug results look more promising than any available treatments
Science | Jon Cohen. The experimental hepatitis B medication "bepi" has yielded better results than any other available treatment options for hep B, a common liver infection that kills 1.1 million people annually. In late-stage clinical trials, 19% of patients (233 people out of 1,220) who completed a 6-month regimen of the drug alongside their standard antivirals were functionally cured—meaning viral levels were undetectable. (Read)
> A small gene-editing drug trial shows promise in reducing bad cholesterol by 62%
Ars Technica | Beth Mole. Initial safety trial findings from 35 people indicate that the gene-editing therapy VERVE-102 appears safe, with no serious side effects, even at the largest doses. At the highest dose, people with high cholesterol saw their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) drop 62%, to a mean of 78 mg/dL. (Read)
> 8% of Americans had no health insurance last year
AP | Mike Stobbe and Ali Swenson. That number is relatively stable compared to several years ago, but the number of uninsured people is expected to increase significantly in 2026 due to policy changes, including major changes to Medicaid and the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies. (Read)
> Children of 9/11 Ground Zero responders suffering from intergenerational trauma
PLOS Mental Health | Yael M. Cycowicz, Diana V. Rodriguez-Moreno, et al.
This type of cross-generational mental health burden has previously been documented among the children of Holocaust survivors and the offspring of parents exposed to genocide and interpersonal violence. But a new study examined 327 9/11 responder parents and 270 now-adult descendants from 176 families. The work found that greater parental 9/11 exposure was linked with a higher likelihood of PTSD, anxiety, and panic symptoms among adult offspring decades later. (Read) |
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In partnership with Allen Institute |
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Accelerating Progress in Brain Health |
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Operating at the intersection of technology and science, the Allen Institute is uniquely positioned to advance a new model of neuroscience research. Through the Brain Health accelerator, they aim to close the long-standing knowledge gaps that have hindered progress in neurological disease research.
With its human-first, collaborative model uniting scientists, clinicians, and technologists, Brain Health accelerator is a powerful new step toward earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and renewed hope for patients and families. Discover the science driving a new era of brain health. |
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Please support our sponsors! |
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"Your stress isn't your fault, but managing it is your responsibility." |
—Stress expert Dr. Aditi Nerurkar of Harvard Medical School |
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