Immune system 'plays a role in dementia'

Conclusion This review presents evidence supporting the idea that the innate immune system is involved in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Reviews like this are very useful at summarising the current state of science in an area, but may miss important research, unless they are systematic. This review was openly one-sided, transparently exploring the evidence behind one hypothesis. While there is nothing wrong with that, a more systematic and balanced review would add the extra value of being able to discuss alternative ideas and find out how much evidence stacks up behind each one, aiding comparisons.  Despite news coverage suggesting this is a radical new theory, the idea that the immune system might be involved in neurodegenerative conditions has been around for a while. A study from earlier this year in mice tentatively suggested that inflammation might be involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and can be reduced by targeting it.  Any potentially promising avenue of research into neurodegenerative diseases is worth exploring, and this review provides some interesting ideas that other researchers may want to follow up.  Links To The Headlines Have we been getting it all wrong about dementia? Scientists discover new trigger for devastating brain diseases. Mail Online, May 13 2016 Links To Science Richards RI, Robertson SA, O'Keefe LV, et al. The Enemy within: Innate Surveillance-Mediated Cell Death, the Comm...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Older people Source Type: news