Environmental factors in driving neuroinflammation

In the last century, life expectancy has almost doubled. However, people are living longer but experiencing more years in ill health, with an increase in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. With age and conditions like dementia, there is also an increased vulnerability to environmental factors, where common infections can drive neuropathology and cognitive decline. Lifestyle changes have also contributed to a rise in obesity, which is a known risk factor for dementia, and has been linked to chronic inflammation and immune sensitisation. Within this project, we examine how environmental factors like Western diet can drive neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

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