Recent advances in immunology are reshaping how scientists understand inflammation and its role in a wide range of chronic conditions, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes. Researchers say this growing knowledge could lead to new ways of preventing and treating these illnesses.
In a special episode of the BBC’s Inside Health programme, immunologist Professor Eleanor Riley of the University of Edinburgh explains what inflammation is and how it can become trapped in a self-perpetuating loop. Chronic inflammation, she notes, is increasingly seen as a common thread in many long-term diseases.
The programme also hears from Professor Charlie Swanton, Clinical Director at the Francis Crick Institute, who discusses how his research into inflammation is inspiring a radical new approach to preventing lung cancer. Meanwhile, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, outlines the puzzle of inflammation in Alzheimer’s: while it clearly plays a key role, exactly how to intervene remains unknown.
On a practical level, Professor Sarah Berry from the nutrition department at King’s College London explores whether individuals can lower their own inflammation through diet, describing how certain foods may either heighten or reduce inflammatory responses in the body.
Presenter James Gallagher and producer Hannah Robins guide listeners through the science, which suggests that inflammation could become a central target in the future of medicine.