immune system

Ageing: Your organs may age at different rates

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The organs in your body aren’t necessarily the same biological age, and tracking their individual ageing trajectories could help predict your risk of developing specific diseases Health 8 March 2022 By Carissa Wong Artistic illustration of the human kidneys Shutterstock / crystal light An analysis of hundreds of biological features strengthens the evidence that some … Read more

DIY treatments and clinical trials – one person’s tale of long covid

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By MB Caschetta Illustration of a receptor on the surface of a B cell binding to SARS-CoV-2, as part of the body’s immune response. Anatomic Groove/Science Photo Library On Body Politic’s covid-19 support group, which uses the app Slack, my username says it all. I am MBCaschetta_May2020. I caught covid-19 on 15 May 2020 and … Read more

Immune system: We seem to find people with a strong health defences more attractive

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Previous research has shown that we are attracted to the body odour of people with better health, and now it seems the strength of your immune system is reflected in your face Health 16 February 2022 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre An attractive pair plainpicture/Daniel K Schweitzer Men and women are more physically attracted to the faces … Read more

Sleep and Alzheimer’s disease: Cell studies suggest a way sleep loss may be linked to the condition

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Protein plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease may build up in the brain if sleep is disrupted because this affects cells that normally destroy them, according to a study involving mouse immune cells Health 10 February 2022 By Alex Wilkins Artist’s impression of amyloid plaques forming between neurons nobeastsofierce Science / Alamy Stock Photo The immune … Read more

How much more contagious could the coronavirus get?

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The coronavirus is evolving to become more transmissible, and eventually it could even overtake measles, the most contagious virus we know of Health 26 January 2022 By Alice Klein An illustration of SARS-CoV-2 Gerd Altmann/Pixabay Over the past two years, we have witnessed evolution in action, with new variants of the coronavirus becoming increasingly contagious. … Read more

Covid-19 brain fog: neurological symptoms likely due to immune reaction, should be reversible

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Growing evidence suggests neurological symptoms of long covid, such as brain fog, are caused by an immune reaction – and should be reversible Health 20 January 2022 By Jessica Hamzelou The SARS-Cov-2 virus may cause immune reactions that lead to neurological symptoms SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Over the past couple of years, we have learned that … Read more

Flu vaccines during pregnancy protect babies for 6 months after birth

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Evidence shows that getting a flu jab during pregnancy provides substantial protection to young babies, but uptake in many countries is still concerningly low Health 14 January 2022 By Alice Klein Pregnant women can pass on antibodies to their babies Shutterstock/Rido Babies are two-thirds less likely to get the flu in their first six months … Read more